SpaceX’s Starlink constellation added Friday 57 satellites that bring the total in orbit to 595. The company aims to use the satellites to beam internet service around the world.
A Falcon 9 launched at 1:12 a.m. ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with the first stage booster successfully landing eight minutes later on SpaceX’s “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. The booster used for the mission was conducting its fifth launch. SpaceX did not catch the fairings.
Friday’s mission was the 10th for Starlink. SpaceX ultimately plans a constellation of thousands of satellites delivering broadband service.
SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk has said that 400 to 800 Starlink satellites in orbit will be capable of providing minimal internet coverage, and up to 1,600 to provide moderate coverage. The company plans a beta test in North America later this year.
Friday’s payload also included two satellites for BlackSky, a global monitoring company.
Watch SpaceX’s livestream of the mission above.