SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 at 9:21 am UTC with an additional 58 satellites for the growing Starlink constellation.
According to PlanetLab’s statement on the launch, the 3 SkySats will provide high-resolution imaging available “to a variety of governmental, commercial, academic, and non-profit organizations.” They’ll join a constellation of 15 other SkySats.
Usually, Starlink satellites are launched in batches of 60, but because of the rideshare agreement, there were only 58 Starlinks to make room for the 3 SkySats. This is the first rideshare of a Starlink launch, and there are more planned.
The Starlink constellation now has 535 satellites with 418 launched this year.
