SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites on Friday evening, sending 23 internet-relay spacecraft into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The mission added to the company’s growing low-Earth-orbit network aimed at expanding global broadband coverage.

Minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage came back to Earth and touched down on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The landing marked another successful recovery for SpaceX, which relies on reusable boosters to lower launch costs and increase flight cadence.

The flight continued SpaceX’s steady deployment of Starlink satellites, a project that has become central to the company’s commercial launch business. The network is designed to provide internet service in areas with limited or unreliable connectivity, while also drawing scrutiny over congestion in orbit and the long-term management of space traffic.

Friday’s mission underscored how rapidly SpaceX is scaling both launch operations and its satellite constellation. With each new deployment, the company pushes closer to broader coverage, even as regulators and space experts keep watch on safety, debris, and the crowded future of low-Earth orbit.