As reported by Ukrinform, this was reported by Space.com.

Equipped with 22 next-generation Starlink space satellites, the Falcon 9 rocket launched at 09:19 Kiev time on Friday from the Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth as scheduled approximately 8.5 minutes after takeoff. SpaceX’s unmanned ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” (“Lack of Gravitas”) landed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.

SpaceX said in its mission statement that this is the fifth launch and landing of this particular rocket ship.

The upper stage continued to launch 22 satellites into low Earth orbit, where they were deployed approximately 65 minutes after launch.

The US has already launched more than 4,400 Starlink satellites. If necessary permits are obtained, this figure can increase tenfold.

The V2 mini satellites are larger and more powerful than the first generation Starlink ships. The full-size “V2” satellites, which will be even larger and more powerful, will be launched using SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket, which is still under development.

Friday’s satellite launch marks the 30th Falcon 9 flight this year and SpaceX’s 32nd orbital mission in 2023.

As reported, on May 14, SpaceX launched 56 new Starlink satellites into orbit.