SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites into orbit tonight (March 18).
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink spacecraft lifted off tonight from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:28 p.m. EDT (7:28 p.m. local California time; 0228 GMT March 19).
The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage returned to Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff as planned. It landed vertically on board the “Of course I still love you” drone, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Related: Starlink Space Train: How to See and Track It in the Night Sky
This was the tenth launch and landing of this particular booster, according to A SpaceX mission description.
Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage will continue to carry 22 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. They will be deployed there about 62.5 minutes after liftoff.
Tonight's launch was the 26th operational mission of 2024 for SpaceX. Seventeen of those flights were dedicated to building the massive Starlink broadband constellation, which currently consists of… More than 5500 satellites.
SpaceX has also conducted a high-profile test flight in 2024, launching its massive Starship rocket on March 14. This was the third test mission for the Starship vehicle, which SpaceX is developing to help humanity settle on the Moon and Mars.
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