SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites with Successful Booster Return

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California successfully deployed 24 Starlink internet satellites into orbit on Saturday. The rocket took off at 2:06 p.m. EDT, emerging from a fog bank shortly after liftoff. About eight minutes into the flight, the boosters separated from the payload and continued their journey into space.

The 24 Starlink satellites, part of Group 17-2, were scheduled to reach low Earth orbit roughly 53 minutes after launch. The mission marked SpaceX’s 112th launch of the year and the 530th since its founding in 2010.

The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket after landing — The first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket standing on its landing legs after returning from space, following the successful deployment of the satellites.

For the 20th time, the Falcon 9’s first stage (booster 1075) successfully touched down on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean, after completing its mission.

This launch expanded SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which aims to provide internet coverage to underserved regions worldwide. These 24 additions bring the network close to 9,000 satellites, enhancing global connectivity.