SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites into orbit from California (video)
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites on Friday (Feb. 9).
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday at 7:34 p.m. EST (4:34 p.m. local California time or 0034 GMT on Feb. 10).
The launch came on SpaceX's third attempt. The company had originally scheduled the flight for early Wednesday morning and Thursday evening (EST) but delayed both opportunities to unfavorable weather.
Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky
As planned, the Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth about 8.5 minutes after lifting off for a landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
It was the 14th launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. Seven of its 13 previous flights were Starlink missions.
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Starlink is SpaceX's broadband megaconstellation in low Earth orbit, which currently consists of nearly 5,400 operational spacecraft. That number is growing all the time, as Wednesday evening's planned liftoff shows.
This Starlink launch was the 11th orbital mission of the year for SpaceX. And there will be many more to come; the company aims to launch 144 missions in 2024.
