SpaceX rocket carries 114 satellites in first launch of 2024

RJan. 3 (UPI) — SpaceX’s first rocket launch of 2024 blasted off Tuesday morning. Sending more than 100 satellites into space that will provide services ranging from agriculture, ocean monitoring and radio scrutiny.

Falcon 9 launch the Transporter-6 rideshare mission from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 9:56 a.m., EST.

The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket successfully returned to Earth and landed after boosting the second stage into space.

SpaceX rocket carries 114 satellites 2024

SpaceX said the flight carrie 114 satellite payloads for “cubesats, microsats, picosats and orbital transfer vehicles that will be deploy later to carry spacecraft.”

The launch by EOSDA will have a constellation of seven agricultural satellites to work with.

“This launch brings new game-changing potential for satellite technology to the agricultural industry,” said EOSDA CEO Artyom Anisimov. “EOSDA will now work with proprietary datasets to provide deeper and more accurate insights for its customers and partners.”

The newly launched agricultural satellite is designed to perform 386,000 miles of observations per day using 11 bands of light. Such research will help farmers better customize their care for crops, educe carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption and water use, among other benefits.

SpaceX rocket carries 114 satellites

By 2025 when the entire constellation is working together. They will be able to examine 4.6 million square miles per day. About a third more than the equivalent area of the United States. The seven satellites aim to reach 100% of the country “including the largest farmland and forest areas,” EOSDA said.

SpaceX’s transporter missions consist of space “dedicated rideshares” that allow a single Falcon 9 rocket to carry dozens of small satellites into space. SpaceX conducted its largest “rideshare” flight on January 24, 2021, when its Falcon 9 launched 143 satellites into space.