When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
The launch of a new batch of SpaceX Starlink satellites lit up the predawn sky in southern California today (Dec. 10) as the company marked its 160th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket this year.
Lifting off at 6:40 a.m. EST (1140 GMT or 3:40 a.m. PST local time) Wednesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base's Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E), the 27 broadband internet satellites (Group 15-11) were deployed into low Earth orbit just over an hour into the flight.
"Deployment of 27 Starlink satellites confirmed," SpaceX officials posted to social media.
Previous Booster 1082 missions
USSF-62 | OneWeb Launch 20 | NROL-145 | 14 Starlink missions
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket completed its 18th flight, landing back on the autonomous droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" positioned in the Pacific Ocean.
The Starlink megaconstellation now numbers more than 9,000 operational satellites, including the more than 3,000 launched just this year. The network provides access to the internet to areas around the world where there was no or sparse coverage, as well as enables WiFi access on commercial airliners and cell-to-satellite service on select providers.
Wednesday's launch was SpaceX's 165th overall launch of 2025 (including Starship test flights) and the 605th mission in the company's history.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Figure out How to Upgrade Your Gold Speculation Portfolio: Vital Bits of knowledge and Strategies - 26 Objections for an Ocean side Wedding
- 3Paris Agreement target off the table, report says
- 4Highlight Correlation of Microsoft Surface Book and Surface Genius Workstations for Determination
- 56 Solid Vehicle Fix Administrations to Keep Your Vehicle in Prime Condition
- Live long and loiter: Why NASA's ESCAPADE probes will wait a year in space before heading to Mars
- 7 Logically Demonstrated Techniques for Better Rest
- From blowouts to big interiors, ‘Tuscan Mom’ style is Gen Z’s answer to beige burnout
- Extraordinary Miracles: The Cherished Islands for a Tropical Get-away
- Two Israeli infants among wounded by shrapnel in overnight Iranian missile barrage
- James Webb Space Telescope discovers a lemon-shaped exoplanet unlike anything seen before: 'What the heck is this?'
- Israel's ban on unsupervised reporters in Gaza causes strategic harm to legitimacy
- Electric discovery on Mars! Scientists find tiny lightning bolts coming from Red Planet dust clouds
- IDF strikes Hamas terror base in Lebanon, Health Ministry says 11 killed
