CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit on Thursday, continuing a deployment pace that has pushed the constellation past 8,000 active spacecraft. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Florida's Space Coast.

The mission added roughly two dozen satellites to the network, which SpaceX uses to deliver broadband service to consumers, businesses, maritime operators and governments worldwide. The company has flown multiple Starlink missions per week for much of 2026, drawing on its reusable Falcon 9 fleet.

SpaceX confirmed that the rocket's first-stage booster returned for a landing on a droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the company's launch webcast. Reusing boosters has allowed SpaceX to sustain its high launch cadence and reduce per-mission costs.

The expanding constellation has intensified scrutiny from astronomers and space-traffic regulators, who have warned about orbital congestion and the growing risk of collisions in low Earth orbit. The Federal Communications Commission and the European Space Agency have both flagged the challenges of managing thousands of active satellites.

SpaceX has said Starlink now serves millions of subscribers across more than 100 countries, and the company continues to seek regulatory approval for direct-to-cell services in partnership with mobile carriers.