SpaceX launches 26 Starlink satellites to orbit from California

SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from California on May 16, Report informs via Space.com.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 26 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, on the Golden State's foggy central coast, today at 9:43 a.m. EDT (1343 GMT; 6:43 a.m. local California time).

A little over eight minutes later, the Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth as planned, touching down on the SpaceX drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You," which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

It was the second liftoff and landing for this particular booster, according to SpaceX. The stage's other mission was also a Starlink flight.

The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued carrying the 26 Starlink satellites toward low Earth orbit (LEO), where they were deployed on schedule 62.5 minutes after liftoff.