Oct. 26 (UPI) — SpaceX launched 28 satellites into low Earth orbit just after 11 a.m.. EDT Sunday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, adding to the company’s growing fleet of Starlink communications satellites.
It was SpaceX’s 89th launch from Florida this year, closing in on last year’s total of 93.
Following liftoff to the northeast against a brilliant morning Florida sky, the Falcon 9 rocket jettisoned its first stage reusable fuel booster about 8.5 minutes later, which returned to the droneship, “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
It was the 24th mission for this fuel booster.
The mission had been delayed five times prior to the Sunday launch, dating back to Oct. 18.