
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
6 Top Computer game Control center - 2
The Fate of Gaming: 5 Energizing Advancements Not too far off - 3
Brexit's Effect on New York's Ascent as a Main Monetary Center - 4
Bayer reports positive results for blood thinner after 2023 setback - 5
Everyone knows F1 is for the girls. I wandered into the Las Vegas desert to find out why.
The most effective method to Refresh the Infotainment Framework in the Volvo XC40
Flourishing in a Cutthroat Work Market: Vocation Methodologies
EU states agree first step for Ukraine reparations fund
The 15 Most Motivating TED Discusses All Time
Kidneys from Black donors are more likely to be thrown away − a bioethicist explains why
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS isn't an alien spacecraft, astronomers confirm. 'In the end, there were no surprises.'
Scientist turns people’s mental images into text using ‘mind-captioning’ technology
Gaza humanitarian efforts reach key milestone as UNICEF vaccinates some 13,000 children
Find Your Internal Culinary expert: Cooking Strategies and Recipes













