SpaceX lofts 24 Starlink satellites in midnight launch from Florida
SpaceX launched 24 more of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida’s Space Coast early Saturday morning (Nov. 30).
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday at midnight EST (0500 GMT).
The Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff as planned, touching down on the SpaceX droneship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean.
It was the sixth launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. Three of those flights have been Starlink missions.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage continued carrying the 24 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, deploying them there about 65 minutes after liftoff, SpaceX reported via X.
Related: Starlink satellite train: how to see and track it in the night sky
The Starlink launch will be the first leg of a Saturday morning rocket doubleheader for SpaceX, if all goes to plan.
The company also intends to launch the NROL-126 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, and 20 Starlink craft, at 3:10 a.m. EST (0810 GMT) on Saturday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2:20 a.m. ET on Nov. 30 with news of successful launch, rocket landing and satellite deployment.
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