SpaceX launched 21 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Florida’s Space Coast early Monday morning (Dec. 23) and landed the returning rocket successfully. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 12:35 a.m. EDT, carrying the Starlink spacecraft with 13 of its units capable of providing direct cell phone connectivity.
The first stage of the rocket landed back on Earth about eight minutes after launch on SpaceX’s droneship “Just Read the Instructions,” marking its 15th liftoff and landing for this particular booster. This was the 129th Falcon 9 mission of 2024, with about two-thirds devoted to building out the Starlink broadband megaconstellation, consisting of over 6,800 active satellites.
The upper stage continued hauling the Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, where they were deployed approximately 65 minutes after launch. This marks the latest in SpaceX’s efforts to expand its internet service capabilities using a constellation of satellites.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-21-starlink-internet-satellites-from-florida-lands-rocket-at-sea-photos