
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
SpaceX launched two more batches of Starlink satellites today (Dec. 17), in a pair of launches from both U.S. coasts.
First up was a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 of the broadband internet relay units (Group 6-99) into low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The satellites were successfully deployed about an hour and five minutes after the 8:42 a.m. EST (1342 GMT) liftoff on Wednesday.
"Deployment of 29 Starlink satellites confirmed," SpaceX reported on social media.
The Florida flight's first stage booster (B1094) completed its sixth flight, landing on the "Just Read the Instructions" droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Then came 27 more Starlink satellites (Group 15-13), riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Lifting off at 10:27 a.m. EST (1527 GMT or 7:27 a.m. PST local time), the mission was on track to deploy its payload about an hour after leaving the ground.
The California flight's first stage booster (B1063) performed its 30th propulsive landing, touching down on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean.
The California flight's first stage booster (B1063) performed its 30th propulsive landing, touching down on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean.
The 56 (in total) Starlink satellites launched on Wednesday add to SpaceX's megaconstellation, which now numbers more than 9,400 units in orbit. The network provides access to the internet to areas around the globe where other options for connectivity is sparse, as well as enables in-flight wifi and cell-to-satellite service on select carries.
Wednesday's dual launches were SpaceX's 164th and 165th Falcon 9 flight of the year.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Two Endangered Bengal Tiger Cubs Die Days Apart at Zoo After Contracting Virus - 2
Overlooked infertility care should be part of national health services, says WHO - 3
Surveys of Thrillers That Re-imagined the Class - 4
Which Switch Game Do You Suggest? Share Your Decision - 5
Equality requires universal draft, participation in economy and workforce, MK Liberman says
Lecturer who called Israel a terrorist state to remain Plaid Cymru candidate
Brazil's Bolsonaro to continue his sentence at home because of poor health
Lightning on Jupiter could be up to 1 million times stronger than on Earth
Why the UAE has incurred the wrath of Somalia
From Loner to Force to be reckoned with: Individual Accounts of Change
Surprising links between autism, Alzheimer’s could change how we treat both
5 Arising Professions in Environmentally friendly power
A Manual for Nations to Head out To
Heat Wave Fuels Massive Wildfire In Australia













