Florida, May 3: SpaceX on Thursday launched 28 Starlink V2 internet satellites into low-Earth orbit from Florida, continuing the expansion of its broadband constellation now nearing 7,300 satellites.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:51 p.m. EDT (2251 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first-stage booster, making its 18th flight, successfully landed on the company’s drone ship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean about eight and a half minutes after launch.
The booster, designated B1080, had previously flown two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station, two cargo resupply missions, and carried the European Space Agency’s Euclid space observatory.
The launch marked the 440th flight of a reusable SpaceX booster, the 468th overall mission for the company, and its 51st launch of the year.
Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet venture, aims to provide global broadband coverage, particularly in underserved regions. Thursday’s deployment added to one of the largest satellite constellations in orbit.
