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U.S.Discover the latest updates from across the United States, including politics, culture, economy, and trending stories. Stay informed on the key events shaping the nation and the topics everyone’s talking about.
OpinionTransform your living spaces with inspiration, tips, and trends in interior design. From minimalist decor to bold statements, find ideas for every style and budget.
LifestyleExplore stories and advice on living your best life. From personal growth to entertainment, dive into the latest in lifestyle trends and inspiration.
HealthStay informed about health and wellness with expert advice, fitness tips, and the latest medical breakthroughs. Your guide to a healthier and happier life.
U.S.//Discover the latest updates from across the United States, including politics, culture, economy, and trending stories. Stay informed on the key events shaping the nation and the topics everyone’s talking about.
Opinion//Transform your living spaces with inspiration, tips, and trends in interior design. From minimalist decor to bold statements, find ideas for every style and budget.
Lifestyle//Explore stories and advice on living your best life. From personal growth to entertainment, dive into the latest in lifestyle trends and inspiration.
Health//Stay informed about health and wellness with expert advice, fitness tips, and the latest medical breakthroughs. Your guide to a healthier and happier life.
A time lapse photo captures a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites lifting off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Image credit: SpaceX)
Living up to its Star Wars’ namesake, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took flight again, delivering 29 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) on Sunday, May 4th, 2025 — Star Wars Day.
The launch occurred at 4:54 a.m. EDT (0854 GMT) from Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
About 8.5 minutes later, the rocket’s first stage came back to Earth, acing its touchdown on the SpaceX drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” It was the 20th launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a company mission description.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a record 29 Starlink satellites lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Image credit: SpaceX)
With 29 Starlink satellites on board, this was the largest number of the broadband-providing spacecraft on one Falcon 9 launch to date. SpaceX has now launched nearly 8,500 Starlink satellites to date, more than 7,300 of which remain operational in LEO, according to satellite tracker and astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.
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Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE.com, a daily news publication and community devoted to space history with a particular focus on how and where space exploration intersects with pop culture. Pearlman is also a contributing writer for Space.com and co-author of “Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space” published by Smithsonian Books in 2018.In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S. Space Camp Hall of Fame in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2021, he was honored by the American Astronautical Society with the Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History. In 2023, the National Space Club Florida Committee recognized Pearlman with the Kolcum News and Communications Award for excellence in telling the space story along the Space Coast and throughout the world.
