SpaceX launch on Feb. 8, 2025. SpaceX screenshot
Feb. 8 (UPI) — SpaceX on Saturday launched 21 more Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station into lower Earth orbit on a sunny afternoon after the private company’s plans to fly Friday were scrubbed.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from pad 30 at 2:18 p.m. Following stage separation the first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. It was 8 1/2 minutes after liftoff.
Thirteen of the satellites have 13 “Direct to Cell” capabilities.
The flight was the 17th launch for the first stage booster, which has been involved with 12 other Starlink missions. It has been able to autonomously return to the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas set up in the Atlantic Ocean after each trip.
SpaceX has now launched 17 Falcon 9 missions in 2025, 11 of them Starlink flights.
SpaceX flights are streamed about five minutes before launches.
On Monday, SpaceX plans a first-stage booster off the coast of the Bahamas for the first time. On Friday, SpaceX officials met with leaders from the Bahamas on the upcoming event.