US Air Force Witnesses Spectacular Light Blazes Footage of Spacex’s 52 Starlink Satellite Above 37,000 Feet [Look]

The sky-filling spectacle left US Air Force pilots "dumbfounded." The comedy was abandoned, as the troops found out the real culprit of them leaving 'stunned' was caused by Elon Musk's SpaceX company.

"We noticed it coming across the border and were pretty scared as to what it may be," said Staff Sgt Christian Magliocca. "The photographs were taken at the height of 37,000 feet," he added. That one was deploying 52 Starlink satellites off Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

In a report from Space.com, the far more recent SpaceX launch provided a spectacular perspective of the United States East Coast.

At 7:32 p.m. Saturday, a Falcon 9 rocket launched 52 Starlink satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. EDT (2332 GMT). That one was visible as far north as Long Island because of the clear conditions along the coast.

Viewers near the launch platform saw the Falcon 9's first stage land softly atop the SpaceX "drone ship" A Shortfall of Gravitas, anchored in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX's Starlink Series of Launch

The Falcon 9 launch was on the fourth of the month. SpaceX is anticipating one more Falcon 9 launch with further Starlink satellites before the end of September, but that timeframe is subject to change after the effects of Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida this week. This year, SpaceX intends to accomplish over 60 missions, approximately one flight every six days, as stated on SpaceX's official site.

Shorter turnaround times between missions at launch pads in Florida and California and SpaceX's reuse of Falcon 9 rockets and payload fairings have added to the greater launch pace.

Starlink satellites migrate in trains through the sky, normally at an altitude of around 335 miles, and can be visible from the ground in clear skies. They frequently perplex people unfamiliar with the project's network, which now comprises more than 40 nations and territories, based on the SpaceFlightNow report.

Beating SpaceX's Own Record

SpaceX reported via Twitter that the Falcon 9 launch system deployed the 52 Starlinks as planned. Saturday's mission became SpaceX's 43rd orbital mission of the year, extending to the corporation's yearly liftoff record. (The previous high was 31 in 2021.)

Since SpaceX seeks 100 missions in 2023, the corporation intends to deploy Starlink Version 2 (V2) satellites that executives predict will be more capable than today's sets. For instance, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk confirmed last month that V2 satellites would communicate directly with smartphones, including T-Mobile customers, through a project called "Coverage Above and Beyond," according to a ScienceTimes report.

If the company's goals come to fruition, a swarm of V2 satellites will be launched into space aboard the massive, next-generation Starship vehicle, which will be tasked with deep space, moon, and Mars expeditions. Musk has stated that the Starship's maiden orbital test flight is "very likely" to come this November, said in a report from Space.com.

Located hundreds of miles distant, the Saturday evening liftoff inspired outstanding photography from experts and amateurs, who published their images via social media.

Check out more news and information on Starlink in Science Times.