SpaceX Starlink Group 2-7 Launch

The launch, landing, and orbital insertion of the satellites were all completely successful.

In the replay video, starting at the 5:51 mark, there is video of the deployment of the 21 Starlink V2 mini satellites from the Starlink Group 6-1 launch on 2023-02-27. This is worth watching because the deployment mechanism is very different than that used by earlier generations of Starlinks. I’m not sure exactly what we’re seeing, but it looks like the deployer (or is it the whole second stage?) spins and then releases the satellites, with the spin causing them to separate from the stage and float away. This eliminates the retainer bars which were previously used, which became space junk on every launch (although not long-lived, as the initial orbit is relatively low—the Starlink satellites raise their orbits to the service altitude using their ion thrusters after deployment).

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