Aug. 7 (UPI) -- SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket loaded with 57 Starlink satellites and two small customer satellites from Florida early Friday after the mission was delayed several times due to weather and technical issues.
Liftoff occurred as scheduled at 1:12 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Elon Musk's SpaceX owns the Starlink communication satellites; the additional two payloads are Earth observation satellites for Seattle-based BlackSky Global.
SpaceX had delayed the launch at least four times due to weather or technical issues, and the launch Friday had a 30% chance that storm clouds or showers could have postponed its liftoff until Saturday.