When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
The launch of a new batch of SpaceX Starlink satellites lit up the predawn sky in southern California today (Dec. 10) as the company marked its 160th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket this year.
Lifting off at 6:40 a.m. EST (1140 GMT or 3:40 a.m. PST local time) Wednesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base's Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E), the 27 broadband internet satellites (Group 15-11) were deployed into low Earth orbit just over an hour into the flight.
"Deployment of 27 Starlink satellites confirmed," SpaceX officials posted to social media.
Previous Booster 1082 missions
USSF-62 | OneWeb Launch 20 | NROL-145 | 14 Starlink missions
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket completed its 18th flight, landing back on the autonomous droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" positioned in the Pacific Ocean.
The Starlink megaconstellation now numbers more than 9,000 operational satellites, including the more than 3,000 launched just this year. The network provides access to the internet to areas around the world where there was no or sparse coverage, as well as enables WiFi access on commercial airliners and cell-to-satellite service on select providers.
Wednesday's launch was SpaceX's 165th overall launch of 2025 (including Starship test flights) and the 605th mission in the company's history.
latest_posts
- 1
In a scientific first, biologists recorded a wild wolf potentially using tools - 2Trump administration launches new immigration crackdowns in New Orleans and Minneapolis. Here are all the cities it has targeted so far.
- 3Why is Jerome Powell being investigated? Making sense of the DOJ's probe into the Federal Reserve chair.
- 4High Court weighs Assenheim appeal over release of Feldstein interview raw footage
- 5The most effective method to Pick A Trade-in vehicle Stage
- Mars orbiter sees 'butterfly' crater spread its wings on the Red Planet
- 13 must-see moon events in 2026: Eclipses, supermoons, conjunctions and more
- Europe could get 42 more days of summer by the year 2100 due to climate change
- Agios Pharma shares jump as US FDA expands approval for its blood disorder drug
- This Unique National Park In Canada Is Famous For Its Otherworldly Limestone Monoliths
- Kristin Cavallari was the teen queen bee of 'Laguna Beach.' Now she's a 'cringey' mom.
- From Novice to Master: Dominating a Side interest
- JFK's granddaughter reveals terminal cancer diagnosis, criticizes cousin RFK Jr.
- Fundamental Home Machines for Improved Solace in Summer
