Elon Musk's SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 26 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, creating a “space train” visible from Earth. The successful launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California despite the prevailing fog.
Before launch, SpaceX warned residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties that they might hear a loud bang associated with the rocket's flight.
The event was broadcast live on X.
After completing Sunday's mission, the rocket's first stage returned to Earth, landing on a floating platform called Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.
On Saturday, after five delays, SpaceX lifted off from Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the 4,000-pound SXM-10 satellite into orbit. After 33 minutes in the air, it was placed in a geostationary transfer orbit, meaning its motion is synchronized with the Earth’s spin. This allows the company to provide stable radio service to users of the SiriusXM satellite broadcaster.
The first stage of the rocket, which carried SXM-10, later landed on Platform A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to Space.com, SpaceX has conducted 69 Falcon 9 flights so far in 2025, 51 of which were for the Starlink satellite network.
From New York Andrzej Dobrowolski (PAP)
ad/ akl/
