SpaceX launches 51 Starlink satellites from California
The satellites were carried into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 4:09 p.m. EDT.
The Falcon 9 booster stage that launched the Starlinks Wednesday previously launched satellites for Space Development Agency's Tranche 0 mission and a previous Starlink mission.
The booster stage separated from the rest of the spacecraft shortly after launch and return to Earth, where it landed on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship in the Pacific Ocean approximately 8 minutes and 40 seconds after launch.
Wednesday's launch was the 28th Falcon 9 launch of the year.
In total, SpaceX has launched over 4,300 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The company has obtained permission to deploy a total of 12,000 Starlinks and is currently seeking permission to launch an additional 30,000.
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