Elon Musks SpaceX launches 20 more Starlink satellites
Tech billionaire Elon Musk‘s company, SpaceX, launched a second batch of Starlink internet satellites on Tuesday night, including 13 satellites capable of providing direct access to cellphones.
The Starlink satellites lifted off at 10:16 PM on June 5, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
About 8.5 minutes after launch, the Falcon 9’s first stage made a planned return to Earth and landed on the SpaceX droneship.
According to the SpaceX mission description, this was the booster’s 20th launch and landing. Last month, with a Starlink launch, the corporation set a record for booster reuse.
SpaceX stated that the Starlink satellites launched on Tuesday include 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities, providing “seamless access to text, voice, and data for LTE phones across the globe.”
The Falcon 9’s upper stage deployed the 20 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit approximately 52 minutes after liftoff.
In 2024, SpaceX has flown 58 orbital missions, 41 of which have been dedicated to expanding the extensive and continually growing Starlink megaconstellation.
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