SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket with record 143 satellites aboard

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully completed a mission to deploy 143 spacecraft and satellites into orbit on Sunday, after which the rocket returned safely to a sea-based landing pad. The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket took flight on its ‘Transporter-1’ mission after weather considerations caused the planned launch on Saturday to be scrapped.Falcon 9 carried 133 commercial and a government spacecraft, and 10 ‘Starlink’ satellites - the most spacecraft ever deployed on a single mission, according to SpaceX. Sunday’s mission was the fifth successful launch and landing for Falcon 9, the company said.