SpaceX successfully launched another group of its Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Florida in the early hours of August 4. A Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 28 Starlink spacecraft, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:57 a.m. EDT (0757 GMT). This marks SpaceX’s 96th Falcon 9 launch of the year. The first stage of the rocket returned to Earth approximately 8.5 minutes later as intended, landing in the Atlantic Ocean on the drone ship named “Just Read the Instructions.” According to a mission description provided by SpaceX, this was the 21st flight for this specific booster, designated B-1080, with fifteen of those missions being Starlink launches. Meanwhile, the upper stage of the Falcon 9 continued to transport the 28 Starlink satellites toward low Earth orbit, where they are set to be deployed 64 minutes post-launch. They will not be alone in orbit. The Starlink megaconstellation, which is the largest assembly of satellites ever constructed, comprises over 8,000 operational satellites and continues to expand.
