On Thursday night, SpaceX launched 23 new Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, marking its third launch in two days.

The launch from Kennedy Space Center coincided with the fifth anniversary of SpaceX’s first Starlink mission, part of Elon Musk’s vision to provide global satellite Internet service.

This mission used the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage for the 13th time, which safely landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX’s ability to reuse rockets contributes to its rapid launch schedule.

On Wednesday, SpaceX conducted two flights: one for a U.S. National Reconnaissance Office mission in California and another for Starlink satellites from Florida. In 2024, SpaceX has launched 52 missions, 36 of which were for Starlink.

The company set a record in 2023 with 63 Starlink missions, nearly doubling the previous year’s total, UPI has reported.

SpaceX also continues to deliver cargo to the International Space Station with its Dragon spacecraft and is testing its Starship for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Written by B.C. Begley