SpaceX's Falcon 9 Launches 21 Starlink Satellites, 13 with Direct-to-Cell Tech

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SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket soared from Kennedy Space Center with 21 Starlink satellites aboard during a midnight launch on December 23, 2024.

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The veteran first stage booster nailed its 14th landing on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions" after delivering its payload to orbit.

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Thirteen satellites from this batch feature direct-to-cell capabilities, marking SpaceX's push into mobile connectivity solutions.

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The satellites deployed into low Earth orbit 65 minutes post-launch, joining over 6,800 active Starlink satellites currently in operation.

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This mission marks the Space Coast's 91st launch of 2024, with nearly two-thirds dedicated to expanding the Starlink constellation.

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T-Mobile, SpaceX's U.S. cellphone partner, announced the start of a beta text messaging service via direct-to-cell Starlink satellites.

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The launch set a new record for pad 39A turnaround time, launching just five days and seven hours after its previous mission.

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Booster 1080 continues its remarkable service record since its May 2023 debut with the Axiom 2 commercial space station mission.

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The satellites were deployed into a 293 by 284 kilometer orbit at a 43-degree inclination.

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SpaceX maintains its rapid launch cadence while advancing satellite technology for global connectivity solutions.

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