American space exploration technology company SpaceX today launched a new batch of 81 satellites. The company said in a statement that a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off today from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, carrying the satellites to their designated orbit, including the CAS500-4, a Korean satellite weighing about 1,100 pounds (500 kg), aimed at monitoring Earth, crops, and forests, among other tasks. The Korean satellite, whose name is short for 'Compact Advanced Satellite 500-4', will be the fourth member of the planned CAS500 fleet, consisting of five satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

This launch, designated Transporter-17, represents the 79th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket in 2026, with 80% of this year's missions dedicated to building the Starlink network, SpaceX's giant internet constellation in low Earth orbit.