Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL, USA - June 8, 2024

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SpaceX made headlines once again as it successfully launched 20 Starlink satellites, further expanding its global broadband internet constellation. The launch, known as Starlink 8-8, marked another milestone for the aerospace company, with 13 of the satellites boasting Direct to Cell capabilities.

The liftoff took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 5:58 a.m. PDT (8:58 a.m. EDT, 1258 UTC), demonstrating SpaceX's rapid launch cadence. This mission followed closely on the heels of a previous Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station just hours earlier and a Starship rocket launch from southern Texas two days prior.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster, designated B1061 in SpaceX's fleet, showcased its reliability by completing its 21st successful flight, tying with B1062 as the company's flight leaders. B1061 has previously supported a variety of missions, including crewed flights, multi-satellite rideshare missions, and numerous Starlink launches.

In a remarkable display of precision, the B1061 booster completed its journey by landing on SpaceX's droneship, 'Of Course I Still Love You,' marking the 92nd successful landing on OCISLY and the 318th booster landing overall.

Michael Nicolls, SpaceX's vice president of Starlink Engineering, highlighted the significance of the Direct to Cell Starlink satellites, noting that the 26 satellites launched in May represented over 8 percent of the satellites needed for initial direct-to-cell service. This development underscores SpaceX's commitment to revolutionizing global connectivity through its Starlink network.