SpaceX Launches 21 Starlink Satellites, Booster Lands for 15th Time 🚀
On January 13, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, further expanding its global satellite network. Among the 21 satellites were 13 equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities, a key advancement in providing global cellular connectivity. The launch took place at 11:47 a.m. EST, and the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage booster returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff. The booster made a flawless landing on the drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, marking its 15th successful recovery. The Falcon 9's upper stage continued its mission, deploying the satellites into low Earth orbit approximately 65 minutes after launch. This mission marks SpaceX's sixth launch of 2025, contributing to the company’s ongoing impressive launch cadence. In 2024, SpaceX completed over 130 Falcon 9 missions, a significant portion of which were dedicated to Starlink launches. Image credit: SpaceX via X