SpaceX successfully launched 20 Starlink satellites from California on a cloudy Saturday morning, just hours after another Falcon 9 launched 22 satellites from Florida. The launch took place at 5:58 a.m. from Pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base. This marks SpaceX’s 60th launch of the year, with the first stage of the Falcon 9 landing back on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship.
Two days prior to this launch, SpaceX conducted the fourth test flight of its Starship rocket in southern Texas. Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink Engineering, expressed excitement about the growth of the Direct to Cell constellation, with 64 satellites launched so far and more launches planned in the coming days. The company is set to offer commercial services in partnership with T-Mobile in the US starting this Fall, providing text, voice, and data capabilities for LTE phones globally.
In addition to the California launch, SpaceX also launched 20 satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, further expanding their satellite network. These satellites include 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities, enhancing connectivity for users worldwide. The frequent launches by SpaceX demonstrate their commitment to expanding access to high-speed internet services and advancing space technology.
