Live coverage: Falcon 9 disintegrates after launch

The secretive winged spacecraft launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Dec. 29, 2023 to conduct a classified mission. The landing concludes the seventh flight of the Boeing-built spacecraft since 2010.

While production of rockets and satellites continues across much of the space industry amid the coronavirus pandemic, engineers at several space companies — including SpaceX, Virgin Orbit and Blue Origin — have started working on medical devices and protective equipment in response to shortages in hospitals across the United States.

The Starlink 10-35 mission will be the 53rd dedicated launch for the satellite constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled at 6:13:50 a.m. EDT (1013:50 UTC).