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
See a half-lit moon shine among the stars of Aquarius on Nov. 27 - 2Step by step instructions to Guarantee the Life span of Your Dental Inserts: Support and Care Guide
- 3The Best Cell phone Brands for Tech Lovers
- 4Doggie diversity in size and shape began at least 11,000 years ago
- 5One perk to marrying Richard Marx later in life? 'We don't have time' for stupid arguments, says Daisy Fuentes.
- Eleven arrested over mass shooting in South Africa tavern
- Electric Vehicles for Eco-Accommodating Driving
- Israel strikes south Lebanon after first direct talks in decades
- The gay hockey show no one saw coming — and everyone is suddenly obsessed with
- Antivirus Programming for Exhaustive Security
- People who talk with their hands seem more clear and persuasive – new research
- Why this Iranian island looks like Mars after it rains
- Vaccine exemptions for religious or personal beliefs are rising across the U.S.
- Satellite space quiz: What's orbiting Earth?
