Brenda Marie Rivers
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has launched a batch of 60 satellites that will serve as part of the company’s Starlink broadband constellation in low-Earth orbit, SpaceNews reported Sunday.
The mission, which serves as Falcon 9’s eighth launch of the year, lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 6:01 a.m. Eastern time. The rocket’s upper stage sent the additional satellites to orbit, expanding the number of satellites in the constellation to 1,260.
SpaceX deployed a droneship to support the first stage’s splashdown landing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Hans Koenigsmann, senior adviser for build and flight reliability at SpaceX, said at the recent 47th Spaceport Summit that the company is assessing potential refurbishment opportunities, particularly on rocket boosters.
Six out of eight Falcon 9 launches are meant to support the Starlink constellation's expansion, according to SpaceNews.
The rocket’s Transporter-1 rideshare mission aboard the rocket also launched 10 of the broadband satellites.
