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
Favored Chinese Dish: Make Your Determination - 2Emergency services search for five people last seen in missing Jeep
- 3Coca-Cola Co. and bottlers to invest in South Africa operations
- 4See the 'amazing' photos of Earth taken on historic Artemis II moon mission
- 5Flu surges across U.S. as doctor visits reach highest level since 1997
- The most effective method to Go with Informed Choices on Vehicle Leases
- Danish warship sunk by famed British admiral discovered after 225 years
- Foot fossil discovery could reshape human evolutionary history
- Which European countries have mandatory or voluntary military service
- Iranian rockets hit Tel Aviv area, injuring six
- Council removes proposal to rename park named after former president of Israel
- A photographer's journey to capture a blood moon rising over the South China Sea. 'It was an incredible moment'
- Figuring out the Justification for Separation: To blame and No-Shortcoming
- ‘Slender Man’ attacker back in custody. What we know about Morgan Geyser's disappearance and what happens next.
