{"id":436097,"date":"2026-05-20T04:07:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T04:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/436097\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T04:07:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T04:07:09","slug":"spacex-launches-24-starlink-satellites-on-falcon-9-launch-from-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/436097\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 launch from California"},"content":{"rendered":"

SpaceX expanded its low Earth orbit megaconstellation on Tuesday (May 19), adding 24 more Starlink satellites on a successful launch from California.<\/p>\n

A Falcon 9<\/a> rocket lifted off at 10:46 p.m. EDT (0246 GMT on May 20 or 7:46 p.m. PDT local time) from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base <\/a>in southern California. The Starlink satellites (Group 17-42<\/a>), still mounted in the rocket’s upper stage, reached a preliminary orbit about 8 minutes and 40 seconds after their launch.<\/p>\n

The two-dozen internet high-bandwidth relay units were on track to be deployed about 50 minutes later.<\/p>\n

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You may like<\/p>\n

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The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands poised on its landing legs as they steady the booster atop a Pacific Ocean-based droneship, “Of Course I Still Love You” on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Image credit: SpaceX)<\/p>\n

Previous Booster B1103 launches<\/p>\n

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The Falcon 9 rocket, booster 1103, completed its first reuse (second flight) by landing on the Pacific Ocean-based droneship, “Of Course I Still Love.”<\/p>\n

Tuesday’s launch brought the Starlink satellite network to just under 10,500 working units, according to tracker Jonathan McDowell<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The launch was SpaceX<\/a>‘s 58th mission of the year, and the company’s 651st successful launch since 2010.<\/p>\n

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