CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX launched nearly 50 Starlink satellites toward low-Earth orbit at 9:15 a.m. EST Thursday. The satellites could potentially help Ukraine as a goal of the mission is keeping people around the world connected through broadband internet.
What You Need To Know
- The latest Falcon 9 launch lifted off at 9:25 a.m. Thursday
- The rocket sent 47 Starlink satellites into low orbit
- The launch could potentially help people in Ukraine maintain connectivity, as SpaceX Founder Elon Musk has already been praised for aiding through Starlink access
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center.
The 47 satellites will allow internet access coverage to most of Earth and provide an advanced broadband capability for things like video calls and streaming.
SpaceX Founder Elon Musk recently announced Starlink is active in Ukraine, to keep people connected amid the Russian invasion. Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly thanked him on Twitter, sharing a picture of Starlink receivers earlier this week.
Minutes after the launch, the Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.