You Can Watch SpaceX Launch 58 Starlink Satellites Into Space Today

The Premier League still isn't quite back yet, but don't worry, you can watch a live satellite launch instead. Sure, it's not the same, but it's something.

A total of 58 SpaceX Starlink satellites will be launched using the same booster that previously launched the Dragon's 19th and 20th resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

This is the ninth batch of Starlink satellites to be flung into orbit, taking the total to over 500, with the last 60 of them sent up from Cape Canaveral on 3 June - and you can see all the action from the latest launch here:

So, beyond providing much needed entertainment for a world that is quite clearly losing its marbles, why exactly is SpaceX launching all these satellites?

Well, as the company's website explains: "With performance that far surpasses that of traditional satellite internet, and a global network unbounded by ground infrastructure limitations, Starlink will deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable."

As well as the Starlink satellites, three Planet SkySat satellites will be launched - another kind of fancy satellite. As Planet explain, the satellites will "operate at a 'mid-inclination' orbit of 53 degrees, complimenting the Sun Synchronous fleet, and will offer more targeted coverage and raw image capacity in key geographic regions."

The launch is scheduled for 5.21am EDT, or 10.21am UK time, though it's worth double-checking it's still going ahead as planned before getting your popcorn, as these things are often rescheduled if conditions aren't favourable.

PA

SpaceX - owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk - made history a couple of weeks ago when it successfully launched NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken into space, with the capsule docking at the ISS on 31 May.

It marked the first time US astronauts have been launched into orbit from US soil since the Space Shuttle system was retired. It was also the first time NASA astronauts had been sent into space on a rocket built by a private company.

Musk, 48, said he was 'overcome with emotion' watching his rocket successfully launch after many years of hard work.

The billionaire said: "I'm really quite overcome with emotion on this day. It's kind of hard to talk, frankly. I've spent 18 years working toward this goal, so it's hard to believe that it's happened.

"It is a little hard to process. I think at this point I haven't sorted out my emotions.

"This is hopefully the first step on a journey towards civilisation on Mars, of life becoming multi-planetary, a base on the moon and expanding beyond Earth."

Topics: Science, elon musk, SpaceX, US News, space

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey