A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit on Saturday, completing the space company's 300th communications satellite launch.
The mission lifted off from Launch Pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday morning at 10:55 a.m. Pacific Time, SpaceX confirmed in a social media post.
The California-based space technology company's latest mission launched 24 V2 Mini satellites into orbit for its telecommunications subsidiary Starlink.
SpaceX broadcast the operation on X, marking the California-based company's 42nd launch this year.
The mission brings the total number of Starlink communications satellites in low Earth orbit to more than 8,400.
The flight also marked the 28th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage, which has previously launched 16 Starlink missions and several other satellite transport flights.
In 2022, the rocket also took part in NASA's Ocean Surface Water and Topography mission, which conducted a global survey of nearly all the water on Earth's surface.
The rocket separated just over eight minutes into the flight, and the booster landed on SpaceX's unmanned Of Course I Still Love You spacecraft, which was located in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX also has a launch scheduled for Sunday: a separate Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying Northrop Grumman's Cygnus 23 mission to the International Space Station.
Two more Starlink launches are scheduled for next week: Wednesday and Thursday.
Sourse: www.upi.com
