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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Your eyes were not deceiving you this weekend. We received several reports and pictures of lights in the sky.
According to SpaceX, 28 Starlink satellites were launched from Florida on Saturday, and that launch was visible across the Carolinas.
LOOK: What lit up the Midlands sky this weekend and when you could see it next(April Dixon)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 5:01 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The booster’s upper stage reached a preliminary orbit about nine minutes after leaving the ground.
The 28 broadband internet satellites were released into low Earth orbit about an hour into the flight. The purpose is the expand broadband internet service for rural and underserved areas.
If you didn’t get to see the launch, you are in luck because there is another Starlink launch at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, as group 10-29 will launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
LOOK: What lit up the Midlands sky this weekend and when you could see it next(Roenta Genius)
It will be on a northeast trajectory up the coastline again, over the Atlantic Ocean. While this launch will not be as visible as the one Saturday morning, many people should still be able to catch a glimpse if they look closely.
It will look like a white light with a tail as it flies up the coast.
This Falcon 9 rocket has flown 26 times before, and last flew 37 days ago, carrying other items to space.
Look southeast to east to see it. Go outside about 3-10 minutes after launch time as it goes up the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
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