SpaceX, the aerospace firm led by Elon Musk, successfully launched 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit on Thursday, further expanding its constellation designed to beam high-speed internet across the globe. The mission, executed with a Falcon 9 rocket at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time, unfolded under clear skies, but it was the breathtaking video released hours later that stole the show—a celestial tableau of technology against the vastness of space.

The footage, shared on social media and SpaceX’s website, captures the satellites drifting into formation 550 kilometers above Earth. Against the planet’s glowing blue edge, the flat-panel devices gleam like distant fireflies, their solar arrays catching sunlight in a slow, synchronized dance. “A view of the future,” observers said, while the video quickly amassed millions of views, enchanting viewers with its serene beauty.

This launch, the latest in SpaceX’s relentless 2025 campaign, pushes the Starlink network past 6,500 satellites, inching closer to its goal of wiring the world’s remotest corners. From rural Africa to the Arctic, users report speeds nearing 150 megabits per second via personal dishes, a lifeline where cables can’t reach. The reusable Falcon 9 booster, landing gracefully on a Pacific droneship, marked its 15th flight—a testament to cost-cutting innovation.

Yet, the mission arrives amid scrutiny. Astronomers decry the constellation’s light pollution, though SpaceX touts mitigation efforts like anti-reflective coatings. Rivals like Amazon’s Project Kuiper loom, but SpaceX’s lead remains formidable. As the video loops online, it’s more than a spectacle—it’s a glimpse of a connected planet, one satellite at a time, with Musk’s vision still defying gravity.