SpaceX sent out yet another batch of its Starlink web satellites to orbit tonight (Oct. 18). A Falcon 9 rocket topped with 20 Starlink craft, consisting of 13 with direct-to-cell ability, took off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station tonight at 7:31 p.m. EDT (2331 GMT). The Falcon 9’s very first phase returned to Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff as prepared, landing on the SpaceX drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 20 of the business’s Starlink web satellites from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Oct. 18, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX by means of X) It was the 17th launch and landing for this specific booster, according to a SpaceX objective description. The Falcon 9’s upper phase, on the other hand, continued transporting the Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. It will release them there about 64 minutes after liftoff, if all goes to strategy. Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky The very first phase of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket comes in for a landing on a drone ship after releasing 20 of the business’s Starlink web satellites from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Oct. 18, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX through X) The brand-new batch will sign up with the big and ever-growing Starlink megaconstellation, which presently includes more than 6,400 active spacecraft, according to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell. About 230 of those satellites are direct-to-cell craft. Breaking area news, the most recent updates on rocket launches, skywatching occasions and more! SpaceX has actually introduced 96 Falcon 9 objectives up until now in 2024, two-thirds of them devoted to developing out the Starlink network. The business has actually likewise introduced 2 Falcon Heavy objectives and 3 test flights of its Starship megarocket this year. Editor’s note: This story was upgraded at 7:45 p.m. ET on Oct. 18 with news of effective launch and rocket landing. Join our Space Forums to keep talking area on the most recent objectives, night sky and more! And if you have a news idea, correction or remark, let us understand at: community@space.com. Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and signed up with the group in 2010. He mainly covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military area, however has actually been understood to meddle the area art beat. His book about the look for alien life, “Out There,” was released on Nov. 13, 2018. Before ending up being a science author, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science composing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To learn what his newest task is, you can follow Michael on Twitter. Many Popular
SpaceX introduces 20 Starlink web satellites from Florida (video)
