HAWTHORNE, Calif. – SpaceX confirmed via X the successful deployment of 20 Starlink satellites to orbit following a Falcon 9 launch from California. According to updates from SpaceX on X, Falcon 9 lifted off, illuminating the night sky before its first stage landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship.
Deployment of the Starlink satellites was confirmed at approximately 2:08 a.m. Central Time, 51 minutes after liftoff, marking another milestone in SpaceX’s ongoing mission to expand global internet coverage through its satellite network.
Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, established the company in 2002 with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. Under Musk’s leadership, SpaceX has pioneered advancements in rocket technology, including the development of the reusable Falcon 9 rocket and the Starship vehicle, which aims to transport humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Musk’s vision for SpaceX centers on making space exploration more accessible and sustainable, positioning the company as a leading force in commercial space travel and satellite deployment. His role at SpaceX has been instrumental in transforming private spaceflight and fostering innovations that were once thought exclusive to government agencies.