Washington: SpaceX said the satellites were carried aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and placed the payload into low Earth orbit.

Following the launch, the rocket’s first stage returned safely to Earth, landing on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, marking another successful recovery in SpaceX’s reusable launch programme. Meanwhile, the upper stage continued its journey, deploying the 29 satellites into their predetermined orbits.

The mission adds to Starlink, SpaceX’s ambitious satellite network designed to deliver high-speed internet worldwide. With around 9,500 active satellites already in orbit, Starlink is now the largest satellite constellation ever assembled and continues to expand coverage, particularly targeting remote and underserved regions lacking reliable internet access.