Live coverage: SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 rocket test-fired in Florida

Scientists working on a new lightning detection instrument mounted outside the International Space Station said Tuesday they expect little effect on the sensor’s performance from possible contamination from the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched it into orbit April 2.

A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off Saturday with India’s EOS 1 radar imaging satellite and nine rideshare payloads for customers based in the United States, Luxembourg, and Lithuania. The successful mission was India’s first launch in nearly a year due to delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Starlink 10-40 mission included the 600th Starlink satellite launched so far in 2026. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 5:52:20 a.m. EST (1052:20 UTC).