(Updated) SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 22 Starlink internet satellites to orbit

SpaceX on Friday launched 22 Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit, marking the company's 65th launch of the year.

The Falcon 9 launch vehicle carrying the satellites lifted off at 11:38 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean

This was the fifth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, and now three Starlink missions.

For the unversed, Starlink is a large constellation of powerful low-Earth orbit satellites that provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet across the globe

Falcon 9 launches 22 @Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida, completing SpaceX's 65th launch of the year pic.twitter.com/tv0PcfeV0s

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 16, 2023

Update

SpaceX is gearing up for the launch of yet another Starlink mission to the low-Earth orbit on Tuesday, September 19. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites will lift off at 10:47 p.m. ET (02:47 UTC on September 20) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This will be the 17th flight for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster supporting this mission, marking the first Falcon 9 booster to reach this milestone. It previously launched many missions including GPS III-3, Turksat 5A, Transporter-2, Intelsat G-33/G-34, Transporter-6, and 11 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Short Fall of Gravitas, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Live coverage of Tuesday's Starlink mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff.

Targeting Tuesday, September 19 for Falcon 9's launch of 22 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 19, 2023