SpaceX has launched a new batch of Starlink Internet satellites into low Earth orbit, Space reports.
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on February 10 at 02:34 a.m. Kyiv time.
The launch took place on SpaceX’s third attempt, as the first two attempts were postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The first stage of the Falcon 9 returned to Earth about 8.5 minutes after takeoff and landed on the Of Course I Still Love You platform in the Pacific Ocean.
According to SpaceX, this was the 14th launch and landing for this launch vehicle, 7 of the 13 previous flights of the rocket were also Starlink missions.
Starlink is SpaceX’s mega constellation of broadband communications in low Earth orbit, which currently consists of about 5,400 operational satellites.
This Starlink launch was SpaceX’s 11th orbital mission in 2024. The company plans to launch 144 missions by the end of 2024.
