Starlink satellite delivery offers stunning view of Earth in video shared by SpaceX

SpaceX recently shared a video taken from space that offers a stunning view of Earth as the company's satellites prepare to deploy in orbit following a recent rocket launch.

The footage, taken during a Starlink satellite delivery aboard the company's Falcon 9 rocket, shows a view of protective coverings known as payload fairings separating and falling back to Earth. SpaceX posted the video on social media site X while on the cusp of tying its record for the number of launches within a single year.

The company, headed by CEO and founder Elon Musk, has also recently provided free access to the Starlink internet service to those reeling from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, though SpaceX faced criticism because a pricy receiver was still required.

Video shows stunning view of Earth from Falcon 9

The in-space video shows a group of Starlink satellites as two pieces of protective hardware, known as payload fairings, fall away from the Falcon 9 rocket that carried the payload to orbit.

"View from the active and passive halves of a payload fairing during a recent Falcon 9 launch of Starlink," SpaceX said Monday on X.

SpaceX did not specify which launch the footage was from, but the company shared the video a day before it scrubbed its latest launch to deliver another batch of satellites to orbit. The launch, which would have tied last year's 72-launch record on the Space Coast, may be on for Wednesday.

That would make it likely that a new company launch record could be set by the start of November, according to Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network.

What is Starlink? SpaceX provides internet across world

Starlink is a constellation of thousands of privately-owned satellites that allow SpaceX to deliver internet to customers around the world.

SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites into orbit in 2019 and has steadily expanded its network since, with more than 6,000 operational satellites, according to Space.com.

Following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in recent weeks, SpaceX announced it would provide a month of free access to the Starlink internet service to new and existing residential customers across Florida and other impacted states. However, the move drew criticism when some customers pointed out that a Starlink receiver, which costs $349, was still required, per a customer support article.

Following the backlash, SpaceX dropped the monthly service fee of $120 for the rest of the year. The company said it has delivered more than 10,000 Starlink kits so far following Helene.

SpaceX also recently partnered with T-Mobile to use Starlink satellites to deliver the first wireless emergency alert in the U.S. without Earth-based cell towers. In the wake of Helene, SpaceX worked with T-Mobile to enable basic text messaging (SMS), allowing users in areas hit by hurricanes to text friends and family, text 911 and receive emergency alerts.

Contributing: Brooke Edwards, Florida Today.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SpaceX Starlink satellite delivery shares video of Earth