SpaceX launches 2 batches of Starlink satellites within 20 hours

SpaceX has successfully launched two batches of its Starlink satellites within a span of 20 hours. The first batch, comprising 29 broadband internet relay units (Starlink group 10-24), was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at around 5:23am EDT on Tuesday. The second batch of 25 Starlink satellites (group 17-27) was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California later that day.

About an hour after each launch, the upper stage of Falcon 9 rocket deployed its cargo, placing the satellites on course to join SpaceX's low Earth orbit megaconstellation. The first stage of both missions' Falcon 9 rockets returned to Earth for reusability. Booster B1080 landed on droneship "Just Read the Instructions" in Atlantic Ocean, completing its 26th flight while Booster 1082 landed on "Of Course I Still Love You" in Pacific Ocean, bringing its reuse count up to 21 flights.