The Falcon 9 launched 21 of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites today (Aug. 28), lifting off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:48 a.m. EDT (0748 GMT). It was the 23rd mission for this rocket’s first stage, setting a new mark for the company.
The rocket delivered the Starlink craft to low Earth orbit as planned, but the first-stage booster couldn’t stick its landing. It touched down on a SpaceX drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean about 8.5 minutes after launch as planned but tipped over shortly thereafter. Video of the landing showed flames billowing from the rocket’s base just before it toppled.