SpaceX launched 29 Starlink broadband satellites from Cape Canaveral on Monday morning, President’s Day, according to the company. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 2:59 a.m. and deployed the Starlink 6-103 satellites into low Earth orbit about an hour later. This mission follows SpaceX’s successful crewed flight to the International Space Station just two days earlier.
The launch was the 14th Starlink mission of 2024, according to SpaceX. The Falcon 9’s first stage returned safely to a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, a routine part of the company’s operations. All 29 satellites were confirmed deployed, expanding SpaceX’s global broadband network.
The mission took place from Space Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral, a site frequently used for SpaceX launches. The satellites are part of the Starlink constellation, which aims to provide high-speed internet to underserved areas worldwide. SpaceX has conducted more than 100 Starlink launches since 2019.
This launch comes as SpaceX continues to increase its pace of Starlink missions, with plans to deploy thousands more satellites in the coming years. The company’s ability to reuse rocket components has significantly reduced the cost of each mission, a key factor in its rapid expansion.