A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off just before 5:30 a.m. Thursday, July 9, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, sending 29 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch was visible to residents across parts of South Carolina and northern Georgia, with locals sharing photos and videos of the event. Jason Linett of Greenville, South Carolina, captured images of the rocket’s ascent, while Marla Thomason submitted a video showing the plume of the Falcon 9’s first stage booster. Clear skies allowed the rocket’s glow to be seen as far north as the Upstate region. This was the 36th flight of the first stage booster, which had previously landed and been reused multiple times. SpaceX typically launches every 1-2 weeks from sites across the U.S., with Florida-based launches often visible in the Southeast when weather permits. The company’s Starlink program aims to expand global broadband coverage, with this mission adding to the constellation of satellites already in orbit. Residents in Greenville and surrounding areas described the event as a rare but routine occurrence, with some noting the rocket’s brightness against the pre-dawn sky. SpaceX has not confirmed specific details about the payload beyond the Starlink satellites, but the mission aligns with its ongoing efforts to deploy thousands of internet-beaming satellites. The launch follows a similar one in late June from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, highlighting the company’s expanding operational footprint. No delays or anomalies were reported during the flight, and the first stage booster is expected to land at a SpaceX facility in Florida later this week. The second stage continued to orbit, deploying the satellites into their designated altitude. With no immediate plans for additional launches in the region this month, the event marked another step in SpaceX’s routine operations from the East Coast.