SpaceX launched the first batch of 54 generation 2 Starlink satellites atop its Falcon 9 rocket, to low-Earth orbit on Wednesday, December 28. Liftoff was at 0934 UTC, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The Falcon 9 first stage returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff, landing on the SpaceX drone ship, 'A Shortfall of Gravitas' in the Atlantic Ocean. According to the company, Wednesday's launch is the first stage booster's 11th flight. It previously flew five Starlink missions, launched two U.S. GPS satellites, the Nilesat 301 commercial satellite and carried two different private astronaut crews on the Inspiration4 and Ax-1 missions.
The Gen2 Starlink satellites, are said to be more powerful than hundreds of SpaceX's first-generation satellites currently in orbit, and will add internet bandwidth boost.
The company initially applied for permission to deploy nearly 30,000 of the Gen2 satellites to low earth orbit. However on Dec. 1, the United States Federal Communications (FCC) granted first approval for 7,500.
"Under our new license, we are now able to deploy satellites to new orbits that will add even more capacity to the network," Jesse Anderson, a SpaceX production and engineering manager, said during live launch commentary. "Ultimately, this enables us to add more customers and provide faster service, particularly in areas that are currently oversubscribed."
"Starlink is a satellite internet constellation designed and manufactured by SpaceX to provide high-speed, low-latency internet to people living in remote and rural locations around the globe," Anderson explained.
SpaceX owner and CEO Elon Musk congratulated the company on the successful mission. "Congratulations SpaceX Falcon team on 60 successful launches this year!!" he tweeted.
WATCH SpaceX 60th launch deploying their new Gen2 Starlink satellites