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Need a lift? SpaceX launches record spacecraft in cosmic rideshare program

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A very hungry caterpillar

Jan 25, 2021, 08:24

A veteran rocket from billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s SpaceX aerospace company launched 143 spacecraft into space on Sunday, a new record for the most spaceships deployed on a single mission, according to the company.

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 10 a.m. EST from the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It flew south along the eastern coast of Florida on its way to space, the company said.

The reusable rocket ferried 133 commercial and government spacecraft and 10 Starlink satellites to space - part of the company’s SmallSat Rideshare Program, which provides access to space for small satellite operators seeking a reliable, affordable ride to orbit, according to the company.

SpaceX delayed the launch one day because of unfavorable weather. On Jan. 22 Musk, also chief executive of Tesla Inc., wrote on Twitter: “Launching many small satellites for a wide range of customers tomorrow. Excited about offering low-cost access to orbit for small companies!”

SpaceX has previously launched to orbit more than 800 satellites of the several thousand needed to offer broadband internet globally, a $10 billion investment it estimates could generate $30 billion annually to help fund Musk’s interplanetary rocket program, called Starship.

3 801
gork

This is the latest lame non-achievement by Elon Musk, used to encourage suckers to buy Tesla shares and socialise the losses when it crashes. They keep on claiming he's responsible for innovations in battery technology that he buys from Panasonic of Japan and CATL in China.

markwu

The US is looking at using SpaceX to provide its heartlands with mobile internet access.

emanreus

I hope them 143 miniature spy cigaret box sized spacecrafts polluting the 326-mile-high polar orbit from  SpaceX (Tesla space+E-car manufacturer) plus them 
additional 800+satellites  previously launched without mentioning the Indians hundred + they fired up a couple of years ago got traffic lights operating. 
to stop others from colliding with ea. other in the future.
  Otherwise the fine will be rather heavy on his Starship adventure...