Early Monday morning, SpaceX achieved another milestone by launching 21 Starlink internet satellites, including 13 capable of beaming service directly to cellphones, from Florida’s Space Coast. This event underscores SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to expand its Starlink broadband megaconstellation.
The mission took place at 12:35 a.m. EDT (0535 GMT) when a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The first stage of the rocket successfully returned to Earth, landing on the SpaceX droneship ‘Just Read the Instructions’ in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately eight minutes following the launch.
This particular mission marked the 15th successful launch and landing for the Falcon 9 booster, with eight of these flights previously dedicated to Starlink initiatives. The Falcon 9’s upper stage continued on its trajectory to place the satellites into low Earth orbit, with deployment occurring about 65 minutes post-launch.
SpaceX has been steadily building its Starlink broadband megaconstellation with more than 6,800 active satellites currently in orbit. The launch on Monday represents the 129th Falcon 9 mission of 2024, two-thirds of which have been dedicated to Starlink.
Starlink satellites, specifically designed to provide global internet coverage, are part of SpaceX’s strategy to generate revenue that can support its broader ambitions, including missions to Mars.
SpaceX’s recent launch from Florida is a testament to the company’s consistency and capability in satellite deployment and rocket recovery. As the Starlink constellation grows, it continues to redefine global internet access while bolstering SpaceX’s technological and exploratory objectives.
Source: Space
