SpaceX launch livestream: Watch 21 Starlink satellites lift off from California

Emily DeLetter, USA TODAY
·1 min read
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SpaceX is planning to launch its Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink satellites from a base in California on Monday night.

The space exploration company, founded by Elon Musk, plans to launch the rocket at 11:04 p.m. PT from the Space Launch Complex 4E Vandenberg Space Force Base, near Lompoc on California's central coast.

The livestream of the launch will begin about five minutes before liftoff. You can watch at the top of the page or on SpaceX's YouTube channel.

Once launched, the Falcon 9 rocket will send the satellites to low-Earth orbit. This is the 15th flight for the Falcon 9 booster.

Following separation, the first stage booster will land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" drone ship in the Pacific Ocean, according to SpaceX.

Watch: SpaceX launches Jupiter 3 satellite into orbit

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a SpaceX mission Launching Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:41 p.m. EDT Sunday, August 6th.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a SpaceX mission Launching Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:41 p.m. EDT Sunday, August 6th.

What are Starlink satellites?

Starlink satellites provide internet services to dozens of countries around the world. Thousands of Starlink satellites currently orbit Earth at a closer distance than other internet satellites, giving users a faster internet experience, SpaceX notes.

Backup launch dates, times

If needed, SpaceX has additional launch dates and times scheduled: 11:54 p.m. PT Monday until 2:26 a.m. PT Tuesday, and backup dates scheduled from 10:42 p.m. Tuesday until 2:05 a.m. PT Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SpaceX launch live: Watch Starlink satellites take off on Falcon 9