SpaceX successfully launched another batch of 29 Starlink satellites into orbit today from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission lifted off at 11:14 a.m. EDT following a brief delay from a previous attempt.
The Falcon 9 rocket performed as expected during the ascent. Its first-stage booster completed its 30th flight, returning to Earth roughly eight and a half minutes after liftoff. The booster landed on the droneship titled A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was positioned in the Atlantic Ocean.
This mission marks the 98th flight for the Falcon 9 vehicle this year. The company maintains a high tempo of operations, with the majority of these flights dedicated to expanding the Starlink broadband network. Current estimates indicate there are nearly 11,000 active Starlink satellites in orbit.
The upper stage continued its trajectory to deploy the satellites into low Earth orbit about an hour after the launch. The constant cadence of these missions reflects the reliance on reusable booster hardware to maintain consistent access to space for the Starlink constellation.