On the 30th (local time), SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] SpaceX, the space exploration company led by Elon Musk, has launched an additional 88 satellites.
CNN Business reported on the 30th (local time) that "the reusable Falcon 9 rocket was used for this launch."
This launch was part of SpaceX's second 'SmallSat Rideshare' program, which involves launching multiple small satellites together at once.
According to the report, the Falcon 9 rocket was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex in Florida, and the first stage booster of the Falcon 9 rocket was safely recovered after completing its mission.
The first stage booster of the Falcon 9 had already been used in seven previous rocket launches, and the fairing that protects the satellites during launch was also reused.
The 88 satellites launched into space on the Falcon 9 rocket include those for SpaceX's Starlink, as well as satellites owned by the Department of Defense and private operators.
Previously, SpaceX has launched satellites, cargo, and astronauts into space using its reusable rockets.
With this launch, SpaceX has sent nearly 900 satellites into orbit so far this year.
The U.S. IT media outlet The Verge reported, "Since the end of January this year, SpaceX has launched about 900 satellites," adding, "This is twice the number of satellites launched worldwide in a single year before 2020."
Meanwhile, Virgin Orbit, a subsidiary of British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group, also successfully launched the satellite launch rocket 'LauncherOne' carrying seven satellites from the U.S., the Netherlands, and Poland, using a modified Boeing 747 aircraft called 'Cosmic Girl' on the same day.
This is Virgin Orbit's second successful rocket launch using an aircraft as a launch platform, following their first in January.
CNN Business stated, "(The continued attempts by space exploration companies to launch satellites) show that interest in the space industry has increased," but also reported that "experts raise concerns about the possibility of collisions between the numerous satellites launched and the resulting debris in space."
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