SpaceX launches 53 more Starlink satellites for internet constellation

Three days after launching four astronauts to the International Space Station, SpaceX launched another Falcon 9 rocket Saturday, this one carrying 53 more Starlink satellites for the company’s growing constellation of space-based internet relay stations.

Running one day late because of stormy weather, the rocket’s first stage engines ignited at 7:19 a.m. ET, throttled up to full power and smoothly pushed the booster away from pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station with 1.7 million pounds of thrust.

Climbing out of low fog in spectacular fashion, the 229-foot-tall rocket arced away to the northeast and quickly faded from view. Two-and-a-half minutes later, the first stage, making its ninth flight, fell away and flew itself to a landing on an offshore droneship while the second stage continued on to orbit.