SpaceX launched another big batch of its Starlink internet satellites toward orbit and landed the returning rocket on a ship at sea today (May 10).

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 51 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base on schedule today at 4:09 p.m. ET (2009 GMT; 1:09 p.m. local California time).

watch video here 

The Falcon 9’s first stage came back to Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff as planned. It touched down on SpaceX’s, Of Course, I Still Love You droneship, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.

It was the third launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description(opens in new tab).

The Falcon 9’s upper stage, meanwhile, continued making its way to low Earth orbit, where it deployed the 51 Starlink satellites(opens in new tab) as planned about 17.5 minutes after liftoff.

more at space.com

feature image credit SpaceX Twitter