SpaceX launches 22 Starlink internet satellites from California, lands rocket in sea (video)

SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink broadband satellites into orbit today (December 13).

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 4:55 p.m. EDT (2155 GMT; 1:55 p.m. local time) today.

The Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth as planned, landing on SpaceX’s Of Course I Still Love You drone ship about eight minutes after liftoff.

A black and white SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 22 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on December 13, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX)

According to a SpaceX mission description, it was the ninth launch and landing of this particular launch vehicle. Seven of these nine flights were Starlink missions.

Meanwhile, the Falcon 9’s upper stage will launch the 22 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit 60 minutes after launch.

Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky

A black and white first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sits on the deck of a ship at sea.

The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rests on the deck of a drone ship shortly after 22 Starlink internet satellites were launched into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on December 13, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX)

SpaceX has launched more than 120 Falcon 9 missions so far in 2024. Almost 70% of this was dedicated to building the Starlink mega-constellation, which currently consists of more than 6,800 operational spacecraft.

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SpaceX launches 22 Starlink internet satellites from California, lands rocket in sea (video)

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