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SpaceX launches polar orbit Starlink satellites from California 2025/5/28 source: Print

SACRAMENTO, the United States, May 27 (Xinhua) -- SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites into polar orbit Tuesday morning, marking the company's first such mission configuration since 2023.

The mission, designated Starlink 17-1, will deploy the broadband internet satellites into low-Earth orbit at a 97-degree inclination, according to SpaceX launch documentation. This polar orbital configuration enables the satellites to provide enhanced coverage to regions at higher latitudes, including parts of Alaska, northern Canada, and other polar areas that were previously underserved by the constellation.

The company utilized Falcon 9 booster B1082 for the mission, marking the rocket's 13th flight. The reusable first stage has previously supported nine other Starlink missions, as well as launches for the National Reconnaissance Office and OneWeb satellite deployments.

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 9:57 a.m. local time.

Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the booster successfully landed on SpaceX's autonomous droneship "Of Course I Still Love You," stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The successful recovery represented the 132nd landing on this particular vessel and the 452nd booster recovery in SpaceX's reusability program.

Polar orbit Starlink missions represent a small fraction of SpaceX's satellite deployment strategy, with fewer than 10 such launches among the more than 260 total Starlink missions conducted to date. The company last placed Starlink satellites in similar polar trajectories in April 2023.

The satellites deployed Tuesday are part of SpaceX's V2 Mini generation, designed to provide enhanced internet connectivity to underserved regions worldwide. As of March 2025, the Starlink constellation consists of 7,135 satellites in orbit, with 7,105 currently operational, according to satellite tracking data from astronomer Jonathan McDowell.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved an increase in annual launches from Vandenberg's SLC-4E facility from 36 to 50 missions, enabling SpaceX to expand its West Coast operations. This regulatory approval supported the company's goal of rapidly expanding global internet coverage, particularly to remote and polar regions.

The successful mission continued SpaceX's aggressive 2025 launch schedule, with the company having conducted dozens of missions already this year. The company reached a milestone earlier this month by launching its 1,000th Starlink satellite of the year, marking a significant expansion of its constellation.

Tuesday's launch also highlighted the strategic importance of polar orbits for comprehensive global coverage. Unlike traditional equatorial orbits, polar trajectories enable satellites to cover Earth's entire surface as the planet rotates beneath them, providing essential connectivity to regions often overlooked by conventional satellite networks. 


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