SpaceX successfully launched a new batch of Starlink satellites into orbit Wednesday evening after aborting launches and just over three hours after the private company launched another mission in Florida.
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink satellites lifted off at 10:34 p.m. ET from the space station's Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Near Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A, SpaceX launched the Intuitive Machines mission to the Moon for NASA at 7:16 p.m.
The private company had planned to launch the satellites at 2:26 a.m., but the mission was postponed twice the day before.
The first stage returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff and landed on the unmanned Just Read the Instructions ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Eight satellites have the ability to directly communicate with the cellular network.
SpaceX used a new Falcon 9 first-stage booster for this launch. The space company has improved technologies for reusing rocket first stages, which are returned to Earth for subsequent launches.
SpaceX has not publicly disclosed the reasons for the cancellations.
The private company began launching Starlink satellites in 2019, bringing the total number to 7,000.
Starlink provides internet access with speeds of up to 300 Mbps in areas where traditional broadband services are unavailable.
Including airplanes.
Qatar Airways said on Wednesday that more than half of its Boeing 777 fleet has been equipped with the Starlink system since October.
The technology is also used on some of United, Air France, Hawaiian Airlines and Air New Zealand's aircraft.
Sourse: www.upi.com
