**SpaceX Expands Starlink Constellation with Launch of 27 New Satellites**

SpaceX has further augmented its Starlink broadband internet network with the successful launch of 27 additional satellites into Earth orbit. The deployment was carried out by a Falcon 9 rocket, which lifted off at 1:10 p.m. PDT (4:10 p.m. EDT or 2010 GMT) on May 31 from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Station in southern California.

In a remarkable display of reusable rocket technology, the Falcon 9's first stage made a vertical landing about eight minutes after liftoff on the ocean-going droneship "Of Course I Still Love You." Noteworthy is the fact that this was the 25th flight for this particular booster, which counts 14 previous missions for the Starlink network among its journeys.

The satellites are expected to be deployed just under an hour after launch, contributing to the ever-growing Starlink constellation. As of now, there are more than 7,600 active Starlink satellites, out of nearly 8,790 launched to date, according to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.

SpaceX's founder, Elon Musk, has highlighted the critical role of Starlink in the company's broader visions for the future. "Starlink internet is what is being used to pay for humanity going to Mars," Musk stated at a recent employee update at SpaceX's Starship facility in Starbase, Texas. He expressed gratitude to Starlink customers, emphasizing their contribution to "helping secure the future of civilization and making life interplanetary."

With this latest launch, Starlink continues to solidify its position as the largest satellite constellation ever deployed in Earth orbit, marking another significant milestone in SpaceX's ambitious space endeavors.