Photos: Falcon 9 breaks apart en route to ISS

The launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base included 13 Starlink satellites that include Direct to Cell capabilities. Liftoff from pad 4E happened at 9:53 p.m. PST (12:53 a.m. EST, 0553 UTC).

A rocket booster SpaceX used to launch a planet-hunting NASA observatory two months ago fired again Saturday at Cape Canaveral, clearing a major pre-flight checkout before blastoff June 29 with a space station supply ship.

SpaceX is gearing up for the first full-up test-firing Thursday of all 33 engines on the booster for the company’s Starship mega-rocket in Texas, a critical milestone on the path to launching the giant vehicle on its first orbital test flight, which could happen as soon as March if this week’s test goes well.