SPACEX

Watch: SpaceX Rocket Lifts Off From the California Coast

More than four dozen Starlink satellites were sent into low-Earth orbit when a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base northwest of Santa Barbara.

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NBC Universal, Inc.

What to Know

  • A SpaceX rocket launched Tuesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base northwest of Santa Barbara.
  • The launch was originally scheduled for Monday, but delayed.
  • The rocket carried Starlink satellites into orbit.

A SpaceX rocket lifted off Tuesday morning from the California coast with more than four dozen Starlink satellites that it will deploy in low-Earth orbit.

The Falcon rocket launch was originally scheduled for midday Monday from Vandenberg Space Force Base northwest of Santa Barbara, but delayed to Tuesday. The rocket carried 49 Starlink Internet satellites and D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier SCV009 Eclectic Elena.

SpaceX landed the rocket's first-stage booster on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

What are Starlink satellites?

SpaceX has a Starlink constellation of satellites orbiting Earth about 340 miles up. The satellites have been shuttled into space by SpaceX rockets.

The Starlink network is designed to deliver high-speed internet anywhere around the globe.

Can I see the Starlink satellites in orbit?

Yes, they sometimes put on a celestial show. If light conditions are right, the satellites appear in a train as they parade across the night sky.

The satellites are sometimes visible in the first few minutes after sundown and before sunrise when the sun is below the horizon, but the satellites are high enough to reflect direct sunlight.

Use the FindStarlink tracker to find the best upcoming viewing times.

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