Photos: Falcon takes flight

The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was the first to the 10th shell of the Starlink constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 happened at 9:56 p.m. EDT (0156 UTC).

The U.S. Air Force on Monday certified the latest version of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, featuring higher-thrust engines, enlarged fuel tanks and a super-chilled propellant mixture, for launches of the military’s most valuable satellites.

SpaceX landed its 460th booster in the midst of the Starlink 12-24 mission. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station occurred at 9:05 a.m. EDT (1305 UTC).