SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video, photos)

This afternoon (October 30), SpaceX launched the next batch of its Starlink internet satellites into orbit off Florida’s Space Coast.

The Falcon 9 rocket, topped with 23 Starlink spacecraft, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:10 p.m. ET (21:10 GMT) today.

The Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth for a vertical landing about eight minutes after liftoff, as planned. He landed on SpaceX’s Lack of Gravity drone, which was in the Atlantic Ocean.

According to SpaceX’s mission description, this was the 14th launch and landing of this particular launch vehicle.

The Falcon 9’s upper stage continued its journey into the sky. It will deploy 23 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) approximately 64 minutes after liftoff if all goes according to plan.