SpaceX Successfully Launches 21 Starlink Satellites into Orbit

SpaceX, the U.S. private space company, successfully launched 21 Starlink internet satellites into orbit early Monday morning, further expanding its global broadband network.

The launch took place at 12:35 a.m. Eastern Time from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of all 21 satellites, 13 of which are equipped with Direct-to-Cell capabilities, enabling direct connectivity to mobile devices in remote areas.

Falcon 9 lifts off from pad 39A in Florida, delivering 21 @Starlink satellites to the constellation pic.twitter.com/izxmtsgB65

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 23, 2024

This mission marked the 14th flight for the first-stage booster used in the launch, highlighting SpaceX’s advancements in reusable rocket technology.

Starlink aims to provide high-speed broadband internet to regions where access has been unreliable, prohibitively expensive, or entirely unavailable. The growing constellation of satellites is a critical component of SpaceX’s vision to bridge the digital divide globally.