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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California

The company launched 20 Starlink satellites from its Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday night from the California base.
Credit: Art Harral
Credit: Art Harral

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, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities.

SpaceX's previous rocket launches were captured flying across Southern California skies. 

Targeted liftoff

The liftoff was scheduled for Wednesday at 9:23 p.m. PT.

The Falcon 9 launch was livestreamed on the SpaceX website.

This is the eighth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, SpaceX said. The company said the first stage will land on the "Of Course I Still Love You droneship," which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Photos from previous 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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