SpaceX has launched its 21st Starlink broadband satellite into orbit, marking a new record for the company’s rocket reuse capabilities. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 13 satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on January 10.
The first stage of the rocket successfully landed back on Earth just eight minutes after liftoff, setting another record for the 25th mission for the rocket’s first stage. The landing took place on the SpaceX drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage continued to carry the Starlink spacecraft to low Earth orbit. The launch is part of a growing constellation of over 6,870 active satellites in space, with more than 400 having direct-to-cell capabilities.
This marks the fifth Falcon 9 mission of 2025 and comes after a busy year for SpaceX, which launched over 130 flights last year, two-thirds of which were Starlink missions.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-launching-on-record-breaking-25th-flight-today