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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base

The company launched 20 Starlink satellites from its Falcon 9 rocket that can be seen above Southern California.
Credit: KFMB

SAN DIEGO — SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites into space from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.

The company launched 20 Starlink satellites from its Falcon 9 rocket. 

SpaceX's previous rocket launches were captured flying across San Diego County skies. 

Targeted liftoff

The liftoff for Sunday's launch happened at 8:47 p.m. PT.

The Falcon 9 launch was livestreamed on the company's X account.

This was the eleventh flight supporting this mission, SpaceX said. The company said the first stage landed on the "Of Course I Still Love You droneship," which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Photos from SpaceX launches seen over San Diego

What is Falcon 9?

According to SpaceX, Falcon 9 is a “reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond.”

Falcon 9 is considered the world’s first orbital-class reusable rocket.

What is Starlink?

Starlink is "the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more," according to the service's website.  

The "constellation" of satellites consists of thousands of satellites that orbit Earth at an altitude of about 550 km, or 341 3/4 miles.   

The satellites connect to antennas that users set up at their homes to provide internet access.  


WATCH RELATED: SpaceX rocket lights up Southern California Monday night


 
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