In the latest event, a Falcon 9 rocket by SpaceX lifted off from Cape Canaveral, launching 21 Starlink satellites into orbit, with 13 having the capability to connect directly to cell phones. These satellites are a part of SpaceX's initiative to expand communication services to areas in high latitudes that are currently underserved by conventional geosynchronous satellites, catering to regions where internet connectivity may be limited.
The successful deployment of these 21 satellites brings the total number of Starlinks launched thus far to 6,854, with 6,239 believed to be operational prior to Saturday's launch, as indicated by space expert Jonathan McDowell. SpaceX isn't stopping there and plans to carry out two more launches over the weekend. One launch is scheduled from the Kennedy Space Center to deploy an additional 23 Starlinks into orbit, while the other launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is set to transport Norway Space's twin Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission relay stations to a highly elliptical orbit. These consecutive launches showcase SpaceX's commitment to expanding its satellite network and providing enhanced communication services on a global scale.