SpaceX launches 27 Starlink Internet satellites

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched 27 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit on Sunday. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 7:26 a.m. local time (2:26 p.m. GMT) on Sunday, September 6. Ukrinform reports this, citing Space.com. The rocket's first stage returned to Earth as planned 8.5 minutes later, landing on SpaceX's drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. This was the 19th flight of this particular booster. Meanwhile, Falcon 9's upper stage deployed the 27 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, deploying them into orbit as scheduled 62 minutes after launch. Sunday's launch was Falcon 9's 103rd flight of the year. See also: Russians face difficulties in rapidly deploying a Starlink analogue in space — ISW According to astronomer and satellite-tracking specialist Jonathan McDowell, the Starlink megaconstellation currently comprises more than 11,000 active spacecraft. As previously reported by Ukrinform, Germany's Isar Aerospace became the first European commercial space company to successfully deliver satellites into orbit . Photo via X / SpaceX