SpaceX has expanded its Starlink internet project with the successful launch of 23 additional satellites, according to reports from space sources.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying these communication satellites lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex in Florida at 11:00 PM Eastern Time, or 6:00 AM in Egypt.
In a remarkable feat of technology, the rocket's first stage returned to Earth for a vertical landing approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
It touched down on the drone ship named "A Shortfall of Gravitas," positioned in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.
This marked the sixth successful launch and landing for this particular booster, as per SpaceX's mission description.
Simultaneously, the 23 Starlink satellites from the rocket's upper stage were scheduled to be deployed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) approximately 65.5 minutes after liftoff.
Starlink is a global satellite internet network, with over 5,000 operational satellites, providing internet access to people worldwide.
According to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, this number is continuously growing and is likely to increase in the future.
SpaceX has already received permission to deploy 12,000 Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit and has applied for approval for an additional 30,000 satellites.
The expansion of the Starlink constellation aims to improve global internet coverage, especially in underserved and remote areas, marking a significant step forward in SpaceX's mission to provide high-speed internet access worldwide.
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