Twenty-eight more Starlink satellites are now circling the planet after a Falcon 9 launch from Florida this morning (Aug. 14).
The SpaceX booster lifted off at 8:29 a.m. EDT (1229 GMT) on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. One hour and 4 minutes later, the broadband internet relays (Group 10-20) were deployed into low Earth orbit.
“Deployment of 28 Starlink satellites confirmed,” confirmed SpaceX on the social media network X.
Previous Booster 1085 missions:
As to plan, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage (Booster 1085) completed its 10th flight, Firing one of its nine Merlin engines, the stage descended to a landing on its four deployed legs atop the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions,” which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The launch was the second Starlink mission within 12 hours after a the deployment of 24 satellites by a Falcon 9 sent skyward from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California at 1:05 a.m. EDT (0505 GMT or 10:05 p.m. PDT on Aug. 13 local). SpaceX now has more than 8,100 active Starlink satellites in its megaconstellation.
The launch from Florida was SpaceX’s 99th Falcon 9 mission in 2025 and 517th since 2010. It was the 453rd reuse of a Falcon first stage and 488th landing.