SpaceX Launches 52 Starlink Satellites From California Base

SpaceX has been building Starlink for years to bring Internet access to underserved areas of the world.

By Associated Press | Updated: 20 December 2021 13:38 IST

SpaceX Launches 52 Starlink Satellites From California Base

Photo Credit: Reuters

Starlink is set to apply for an India licence in January

Highlights

This was the 11th launch and recover of the Falcon rocket's first stage
Starlink now has nearly 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit
Starlink's satellite based Internet service is aimed at underserved areas

A SpaceX rocket carried 52 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from California early Saturday.

The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base at 4:41am (6:11pm IST) and arced over the Pacific.

The Falcon's first stage returned and landed on a SpaceX droneship in the ocean. It was the 11th launch and recovery of the stage.

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The second stage continued into orbit and deployment of the satellites was confirmed, said launch commentator Youmei Zhou at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.

Starlink is a satellite-based global internet system that SpaceX has been building for years to bring internet access to underserved areas of the world.

Saturday's mission was the 34th launch for Starlink, a constellation of nearly 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit.

Satellite Internet in India: Starlink to Apply for India Licence in January

SpaceX also was scheduled to launch a Turkish communications satellite from Florida at 10:58pm EST Saturday (9:28am IST, Sunday).

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