SpaceX launches record 100+ satellites on Falcon 9 rocket

SpaceX lifted a record number of satellites in a single payload when its Carpool Transporter-1 mission took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET) on Sunday morning.

The payload for this space is equivalent to an Uber at orbit includes a cornucopia of small satellites from government and commercial entities, as well as 10 of SpaceX’s own satellites Starlink broadband satellites. In total, the company says there are 143 small spaceships on board, which it claims is a record.

About nine minutes after increasing the payload and the second step on the way to space, the first stage thruster returned for an accurate landing on the SpaceX droneship Of course I still love you in the Atlantic.

In the weeks leading up to the launch, there were last-minute changes after two DARPA satellites were accidentally damaged earlier this month at a processing facility. The Starlink satellites were also a last minute addition. The payload includes several small spacecraft from Nanoracks and others from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the US Department of Defense and many others.

The launch was originally scheduled for December, but has been postponed several times, including from Saturday, when the weather pushed it back to Sunday.

The Falcon 9 booster has made its fifth flight and landing of its career. The maximum we’ve seen of a Falcon 9 so far is eight flights.

To follow CNET’s 2021 Space Calendar to stay up to date with all the latest space news this year. You can even add it to your own Google Calendar.