Doha: The American Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) launched 28 Starlink satellites into space on Thursday. The launch took place at 8:29 a.m. Eastern Time (12:39 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, USA.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellites successfully reached low Earth orbit one hour and four minutes after liftoff. The company reported that the first stage of the rocket made a successful landing on a SpaceX drone stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

This particular launch marks the second Starlink mission within a 12-hour period. Earlier, another Falcon 9 rocket deployed 24 satellites from Vandenberg Space Station in California at 1:05 a.m. EST (05:05 GMT).

SpaceX’s massive constellation now boasts more than 8,100 active Starlink satellites. The recent launch from Florida is significant as it represents SpaceX’s 99th Falcon 9 mission of 2025 and the company’s 517th mission since 2010. It also marks the 453rd reuse of the Falcon first stage and the 488th successful landing.