SpaceX launches 5,000th Starlink satellite into orbit

Aug. 27 (UPI) -- SpaceX has launched 5,000 Starlink satellites into orbit after sending 22 into space on Saturday night.

A Falcon 9 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 9:05 p.m. EDT, Florida Today reports. It was the agency's second launch of the day.

The first stage booster separated about 8 minutes after launch and landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship in the Atlantic Ocean for recovery.

It was the booster's third launch and landing.

The 22 Starlink satellites were deployed into low-earth orbit about 65 minutes after launch, according to Space.com, following a second stage burn.

SpaceX has been approved to deploy 12,000 Starlink satellites and has requested clearance for an additional 30,000.

Starlink satellites deliver high-speed broadband access at relatively low latency compared to other satellite internet services, according to the company. Service is commercially available

Eighteen hours prior to the launch, NASA's Crew-7 mission launched from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The SpaceX Dragon, carrying a four-person crew, docked with the International Space Station at 9:16 a.m. EDT, Sunday.

The mission is slated for six months on the space station. During that time, the crew will conduct a variety of scientific experiments, demonstrations and maintenance.