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
Parents speak out as 4-year-old fights button battery injury in intensive care unit - 2What is the Insurrection Act? Can Trump really use the military to 'put an end' to Minneapolis ICE protests?
- 36 Popular Ladies' Aromas On the planet
- 4The Manual for Electric Vehicles that will be hot dealers in 2023
- 5Figure out How to Explore the Infotainment Framework in the Slam 1500.
- The Main 15 Applications for Efficiency and Association
- Extraordinary Miracles: The Cherished Islands for a Tropical Get-away
- German unemployment rate falls to 6.4%, but 3 million still jobless
- Is an $85 apple pie worth it? Our Thanksgiving taste test says … maybe.
- A Republican elected governor in California? It's not as far-fetched as it sounds.
- First Phosphate advances battery-grade phosphate project as analysts highlight strategic Federal support
- Corcept Therapeutics shares surge as lead drug gets FDA nod for ovarian cancer
- How we came to be: Scientists get first look at the evolution of early complex animals
- People with depression can treat themselves at home with new device
