SpaceX launches so many space missions with reusable Falcon 9 rockets that it has already become commonplace for us. But if you look at the launches of these rockets from a different angle, the reverse, more dramatic side of these missions will be revealed to you. SpaceX founder Elon Musk posted on Twitter an alternative view of the combustion of the second stage of the Falcon 9 in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The video was not of very high quality, because it was obtained by streaming from a video camera installed on one of the Starlink satellites. At first glance, this short video is unremarkable. But if you look closely to the right of the row of satellites, you can notice a small white object near the upper right corner. After a few seconds, you can see how the white dot begins to quickly move away to the right.
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Video pic.twitter.com/9gUJv2V143
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2022
That’s what’s going on. Falcon 9 is the “workhorse” of SpaceX, responsible for launching both satellites and spacecraft with astronauts. It uses two stages. The first one does the hardest work during takeoff and then returns to Earth for reuse. The second stage ensures the delivery of the payload into orbit. So the second stage is always doomed to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere. Fortunately, the height allows it to be completely disposed of without reaching the surface, without endangering people. It was this dramatic moment that the Starlink satellite filmed, as the second stage of the rocket, having completed its mission, overcame the last kilometers before final destruction.
SpaceX launches Starlink into orbit to build a global broadband network. These satellites have already shown their effectiveness in helping Ukraine to deploy the Internet in the areas of our country affected by Russian aggression. But at the same time, Elon Musk’s satellites have become a source of controversy over the distortion of photographs when observing space from Earth due to their high brightness.
Earlier we reported on how Taiwan will use the experience of using satellite communications in Ukraine.
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