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SpaceX launches another batch of Starlink satellites on Wednesday

Updated  March 11, 2025 11:41pm EDT
SpaceX
FOX 35 Orlando

SpaceX launces another batch of Starlink satellites

SpaceX sent another batch of Starlink communication satellites into orbit on Wednesday.

The Brief

    • SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell technology, from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday evening.
    • The Falcon 9 booster, making its 22nd flight, will attempt a landing on a droneship in the Atlantic.
    • The mission aims to expand mobile connectivity, though details on service rollout remain unclear.

ORLANDO, Fla. - SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell technology, from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday evening. 

What we know:

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday, March 12. 

Among them, 13 satellites will feature Direct to Cell capabilities, which aim to enhance mobile connectivity in remote areas. 

This mission marks the 22nd flight for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster, which has been used for multiple past launches, including cargo resupply missions and Starlink deployments. After liftoff, the booster landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.

What we don't know:

SpaceX has not disclosed specific details on the operational timeline for the Direct to Cell service or which mobile carriers will integrate the new technology. 

The backstory:

Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation, has been expanding rapidly, with frequent launches adding to its growing network in low-Earth orbit. The company’s Direct to Cell capability aims to eliminate mobile dead zones by allowing standard cell phones to connect directly to satellites without requiring additional hardware.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by SpaceX.

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