Today, SpaceX successfully sent 29 more Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Florida’s Space Coast. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 12:35 a.m. EDT.
After about 8.5 minutes, the rocket’s first stage landed safely in the Atlantic Ocean on the drone ship named “Just Read the Instructions.” This booster, known as 1082, has already flown 15 missions. Notably, it previously launched the Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station and the Polaris Dawn mission, which included the first-ever private spacewalk.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage is now on its way to release the satellites into low Earth orbit, expected about 64 minutes post-launch. Today’s mission marked SpaceX’s 138th orbital launch of the year, surpassing their previous record of 134 set last year. This year alone, 99 of these missions focused on expanding the Starlink network, which now boasts over 8,700 active satellites worldwide.
Experts believe that Starlink’s expanding coverage will significantly influence global internet access, especially in remote areas. A recent report estimated that around 50% of the world’s population still lacks reliable internet access. Starlink could play a key role in bridging this digital divide.
As this technology progresses, social media buzz has intensified around the potential benefits of a connected world, with many users sharing experiences of better connectivity thanks to Starlink. The excitement surrounding space innovations remains high, reflecting a growing trend in public interest.
For more on the expanding capabilities of satellite internet, you can check sources like the Pew Research Center.
