Incredible photos show SpaceX rocket breaking the sound barrier
Published: April 28, 2024, 10:15 p.m.
Brevard County space buffs enjoyed a SpaceX Saturday-Sunday launch doubleheader weekend, with back-to-back Falcon 9 rockets sending satellites arcing up into orbit.
First up, SpaceX launched two Galileo satellites on Saturday night from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, boosting Europe's global navigation satellite system to 30 satellites.
Less than 24 hours later on Sunday, the second Falcon 9 lifted off at 6:08 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the Starlink 6-54 mission, giving Cocoa Beach spectators sunny daytime views of the ascending rocket.
That mission deployed another payload of 23 Starlink broadband satellites into the company's low-Earth orbit constellation.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket breaks through the sound barrier after launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sunday, April 28, 2024. The rocket is carrying 23 Starlink satellites Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORThe April 28 SpaceX Starlink 6-54 mission lifted off at 6:08 p.m. EST from from Cape Canaveral Space StationA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket breaks through the sound barrier after launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sunday, April 28, 2024. The rocket is carrying 23 Starlink satellites Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket breaks through the sound barrier after launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sunday, April 28, 2024. The rocket is carrying 23 Starlink satellites Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sunday, April 28, 2024. The rocket is carrying 23 Starlink satellites Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sunday, April 28, 2024. The rocket is carrying 23 Starlink satellites Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sunday, April 28, 2024. The rocket is carrying 23 Starlink satellites Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sunday, April 28, 2024. The rocket is carrying 23 Starlink satellites Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORThe April 28 SpaceX Starlink 6-54 mission lifted off at 6:08 p.m. EST from from Cape Canaveral Space StationThe April 28 SpaceX Starlink 6-54 mission lifted off at 6:08 p.m. EST from from Cape Canaveral Space StationThe April 28 SpaceX Starlink 6-54 mission lifted off at 6:08 p.m. EST from from Cape Canaveral Space Station
