SpaceX returns to the pad tonight just four days after crew launch

Enlarge / A view of the Falcon 9 first stage that launched Demo-2, returning to port. (credit: Trevor Mahlmann)

A mere four days after its historic launch of NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station, SpaceX is preparing for another launch of its Falcon 9 rocket.

The company plans to make its eighth overall launch of Starlink Internet satellites into low Earth orbit. The 60 satellites, each weighing about 260kg, will be placed at an orbit a little above 200km, and they will then use onboard thrusters to raise their altitude to 550km.

Launch from the company's Space Launch Complex 40 pad, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, is due to occur at 9:25pm ET (01:25 UTC Wednesday).