This morning, SpaceX achieved another milestone by launching two dozen of its Starlink internet satellites into orbit. The mission began at 12:26 a.m. EDT (0426 GMT; 9:26 p.m. local California time on September 25) when a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base located on California's central coast.
Approximately 8.5 minutes post-launch, the first stage of the Falcon 9 successfully landed on the SpaceX drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This remarkable recovery marks the 16th flight for this specific booster, designated B1082, with an impressive record of twelve missions being dedicated to Starlink launches.
While the first stage made its descent, the Falcon 9's upper stage continued its journey, transporting the Starlink satellites toward low Earth orbit. These satellites are scheduled for deployment approximately 62.5 minutes after launch, contributing to SpaceX's expanding network aimed at providing high-speed internet globally.
This morning's liftoff marks the 123rd Falcon 9 launch of 2023 and is notably the 15th launch to occur in September alone. SpaceX's ongoing commitment to deploying the Starlink constellation continues to reshape the landscape of global internet accessibility.
