SpaceX launches 26 Starlink satellites and lands Falcon 9 booster

SpaceX launched 26 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Friday evening, continuing its rapid expansion of the internet constellation. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, marking another routine mission for the company’s reusable launch system.

The mission also ended with a successful first-stage landing on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. That recovery allows SpaceX to refurbish and fly the booster again, a central part of the company’s push to lower launch costs and increase cadence.

Starlink is designed to provide broadband coverage from space, including to remote and underserved areas. With this latest deployment, SpaceX has added to a network that now includes thousands of satellites already in orbit.

The launch adds to a busy year for SpaceX as it continues deploying satellites and testing the reliability of Falcon 9 operations. The company has used the reusable rocket to support both commercial missions and the ongoing buildout of its global satellite internet service.