SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites from California, lands rocket at sea

SpaceX launched 28 Starlink satellites today (Oct. 27) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The rocket’s first stage successfully landed on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, marking its 17th flight, while the upper stage delivered the satellites to low Earth orbit.

This launch was SpaceX’s 137th Falcon 9 mission of the year and the third in just three days, continuing the buildout of the Starlink megaconstellation, Space.com has reported.

To date, SpaceX has launched over 10,000 Starlink satellites, with nearly 8,750 active, and plans to expand the network to around 30,000 satellites in the coming years.