NEW YORK, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. private space company SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites into orbit early Friday.
According to SpaceX, the satellites were launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1:01 a.m. Eastern Time (0501 GMT).
Shortly after the launch, Falcon 9's first-stage booster returned and landed on a droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX later confirmed the deployment of the 23 satellites.
Friday's liftoff was the 12th launch and landing for this booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. ■
