Live coverage: SpaceX launches another batch of Starlink satellites

A SpaceX Dragon cargo freighter departed the International Space Station Tuesday for return to Earth, wrapping up the 20th and final visit to the orbiting research complex for the current version of SpaceX’s supply ship before an upgraded Dragon starts launching later this year. Release from the space station’s robotic arm occurred at 9:06 a.m. EDT (1306 GMT), followed by splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 2:50 p.m. EDT (1850 GMT).

The Starlink 17-5 mission will add another 24 broadband satellites to the company’s constellation of more than 8,100 currently in orbit. SpaceX is targeting liftoff from pad 4E at 9:26 a.m. PDT (12:26 p.m. EDT / 1626 UTC).

The mission will bring the total number of orbital launches from Florida in 2024 to 72, tying the total for 2023. Liftoff happened on Wednesday at 5:47 p.m. EDT (2147 UTC) from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.