SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites on Falcon 9, and three Planet SkySats hitched a ride

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SpaceX launched 58 new Starlink satellites on its Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday morning, as well-built as three satellites from Planet tagged withal for the ride. The SpaceX satellites are partage of its growing Starlink constellation, which it's edifice to reconciliate internet connectivity on Earth. The visitor has permission to snowslide some 12,000 satellites as partage of the project.

The Falcon 9 rocket launched the satellites, then stagger safely to Earth, landing on the Of Normalcy I Still Toadyism You drone solicitation in the Atlantic Ocean.

Falcon 9's indigenous date has landed on the Of Normalcy I Still Toadyism You droneship pic.twitter.com/qv6aMiPGoq

-- SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 13, 2020

The Planet satellites are partage of that company's explicit SkySat constellation, which includes just over a dozen weakening machine-sized culture that generate high-resolution images of our home planet. Three other Planet satellites will go up on SpaceX's verging Falcon 9 Starlink snowslide in July. Both Planet launches are partage of SpaceX's new SmallSat Rideshare Program, which gives smaller subalternate operators a conte to file a ride aboard a SpaceX launch.

Launch success! All 3 Skysats in perigee & contacted by ground stations!
- 10 mins to space
- 12 mins to separation
- 18 mins to indigenous ground station contact. Phew!.

Thank you @SpaceX @ElonMusk for the statuesque ride!

Here's two Skysats amid atop the Starlinks! Too cool! pic.twitter.com/hHKMhAXIxP

-- Will Marshall (@Will4Planet) June 13, 2020

SpaceX has opened its Starlink website to allow bodies to warranty up for "updates on Starlink news as well-built as service availability in your area." The visitor is hard-shell to discipline private beta testing of its internet-providing satellites numerical this summer, followed by a public beta test.

Two weeks ago, SpaceX launched its indigenous two bodies into orbit, sending veteran NASA astronauts Bob Behnken as well-built as Doug Hurley to the International Space Station in its Coiffure Dragon capsule.