Science
For the ninth time, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifts off, launching 60 more Starlink satellites into orbit.
The new batch of 60 Starlink satellites was launched into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday, and the rocket successfully returned to Earth, landing on the company's Of Course I Always Love You drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the company.
Sunday's mission was the Falcon 9's ninth flight and landing, according to SpaceX, and it was part of five previous Starlink launches as well as the DM-1 mission for its Crew Dragon capsule.
The satellites are part of SpaceX's growing Starlink constellation, which aims to bring internet access to rural areas around the world. The company has been given approval to launch 12,000 satellites as part of the project, with over 1,000 already in orbit.
Starlink's beta program, which started last year, has accrued 10,000 participants. The Starlink package costs $499 and includes a router and antenna, as well as a $99 monthly subscription for internet speeds of 70 to 130 Mbps. Last month, the company launched pre-orders for Starlink in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for a $99 deposit fee.
Deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed pic.twitter.com/AMLK4R9dMn
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2021
The launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sunday was SpaceX's second in as many days, after another of its Falcon 9 rockets was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday. At the same time, 60 satellites were launched into space. The next Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral is tentatively scheduled for March 21st.
