Watch: SpaceX Expands Starlink Constellation With 21st Launch of 2023

SpaceX launched 56 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit on Wednesday, March 29, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch marked the company's 21st mission of the year and the 17th from Florida's Space Coast.

Watch SpaceX Launch a Falcon 9 Rocket

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 4:01 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 40, carrying the satellites on a southeasterly trajectory. About eight minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster returned to Earth and landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the fourth flight for this booster, which previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, and Inmarsat I-6 F2 missions.

The Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX's global broadband internet service for stationary, mobile, remote and underserved areas. The company has already launched more than 3,750 satellites and plans to deploy thousands more in the coming years.

However, the Starlink project has also faced some challenges and criticisms in 2023. Some of the satellites have malfunctioned and become space debris, posing a risk of collision with other spacecraft. Some astronomers have complained that the bright satellites interfere with their observations of the night sky. And some regulators have questioned SpaceX's compliance with environmental and licensing requirements.

Meanwhile, SpaceX is also developing its next-generation Starship rocket, which is designed to carry humans and cargo to the moon, Mars and beyond. The company has conducted several test flights of Starship test articles at its Boca Chica site in Texas. SpaceX hopes to achieve orbital flight with Starship later this year.

The next scheduled Falcon 9 launch from Florida is on April 5, when the rocket will carry a Dragon cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station.