SpaceX has taken another big step toward making global internet coverage a reality. On Monday afternoon, they launched 28 more Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This launch happened in Florida and marked the 17th mission for the first-stage booster involved. This booster has quite a history; it’s already supported 11 Starlink missions and several resupply missions to the International Space Station.
The Falcon 9 rocket took off right on time at 3:52 p.m. EDT. Just eight minutes later, the booster made a perfect landing on the ‘Just Read the Instructions’ droneship, which was waiting in the Atlantic Ocean. This mission is part of a long legacy, being the 451st launch of a Falcon 9 since the rocket was first introduced in 2010.
Earlier the same day, SpaceX hit another milestone. They launched the Fram2 mission from the Kennedy Space Center, marking the first crewed expedition to orbit Earth’s poles. This launch was at 9:46 p.m. and featured an international crew of privately funded astronauts, adding another exciting chapter to the day.
With this latest launch, there are now over 7,135 Starlink satellites orbiting Earth, and 7,105 of them are currently operational, according to Astronomer Jonathan McDowell. These satellites are orbiting at about 342 miles above Earth, helping to expand high-speed internet access across the globe.
