SpaceX rocket launch from California seen across southern Utah

ST. GEORGE -- People across southern Utah, Arizona and Nevada saw SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as it launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California Monday night. The mission launched 22 Starlink satellites from the base near Santa Barbara, California, to low-Earth orbit at 8:28 p.m. MDT. It was Falcon 9's 26th launch of the year, with 17 of those including Starlink payloads. It was the 10th launch and landing for this particular booster, according to SpaceX. A long tail of smoke was visible as the rocket traveled in a southeast direction as it headed to orbit. https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1769912758538305844 SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites in 2019, touting the results as the “world’s first and largest satellite constellation.” The satellites aim to offer “high-speed, low-latency internet” to people all over the globe. The company also has a goal to use the satellites to help end the world’s “mobile dead zones.” The satellites are often seen flying over Utah as a string of lights. To date, SpaceX has launched more than 5,500 satellites for its megaconstellation. https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1769956562754531779

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