CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 53 Starlink broadband satellites equipped with crosslink laser communications systems into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday morning.
The laser communications systems will allow for faster transmission of data. SpaceX normally launches 60 Starlink satellites at a time, but the laser systems appear to make the satellites heavier.
It was the first Starlink launch since May. SpaceX has launched 1,791 Starlink satellites, with 1,666 in orbit and 1,643 currently functioning, according to Jonathan’s Space Report.
The Falcon 9’s first stage landed on an off-shore drone ship. It was the ninth launch and landing of this first stage, which previously launched Crew Demo-2, ANASIS-11, CRS-21, Transporter-1, and five Starlink missions.
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