SpaceX fires off 49 more Starlinks in rapid-fire launch sequence

Keeping up a rapid-fire launch pace, SpaceX fired off its third Falcon 9 of the year Tuesday, boosting another 49 Starlink internet satellites into orbit as the company continues building out a globe-spanning network of commercial broadband relay stations.

The Falcon 9, using a first stage making its 10th flight, thundered to life and climbed away from historic pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 9:02 p.m. ET, arcing over a full moon as it headed out on a southeasterly trajectory tilted 53 degrees to the equator.

After boosting the rocket out of the lower atmosphere, the first stage fell away and flew itself back to landing on an off-shore droneship. It was SpaceX's 103rd successful recovery and its 79th at sea.