SpaceX launches 26 new Starlink satellites and successfully returns a Falcon 9 rocket

SpaceX launched the next batch of Starlink satellites, increasing the number of active vehicles in the orbital grouping to more than 7,760 units. The launch took place on the night of June 17 from the Vandenberg space Center. The Falcon 9 rocket with the serial number B1093 launched 26 satellites, designated as Group 15-9, into low-Earth orbit. The launch time is set at 20: 36 Pacific time.

Approximately eight and a half minutes after launch, the first stage of the rocket successfully landed on the barge Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. This was the third flight of this stage, the previous mission with its participation took place in May.

The final deployment of the satellites is planned after the second start of the second stage engine, which was supposed to happen about an hour after launch. The launch from Vandenberg followed the launch from Cape Canaveral on June 13, which put satellites into orbit, completing the formation of the first generation of the Starlink network with support for direct communication with mobile phones. This technology allows ordinary mobile devices to stay connected even in the most remote corners of the planet.

The current launch did not include direct-to-phone communication satellites, but significantly strengthened Starlink's broadband infrastructure. The SpaceX program continues to expand the capabilities of the global Internet, providing high-speed access in remote and underdeveloped regions of the world.