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SpaceX has shared a fresh video of the Falcon 9 deploying a batch of 21 Starlink satellites into space. The firm launched seven missions in February to date, and six of these are Starlink launches. Most of the Starlink launches have sent 21 satellites into space, with the majority of the satellites being direct-to-cell spacecraft that will support mobile satellite internet connectivity. SpaceX’s latest Starlink launch, which took off from Florida earlier today, also set a new record for rocket reusability as the firm successfully recovered a Falcon 9 booster for the 26th time.
SpaceX Gears Up To Land Falcon 9 In The Bahamas For The First Time
SpaceX spent most of 2024 building out its Starlink direct-to-cell satellite internet constellation to allow users to use satellite internet with their smartphones. For this service, the firm partnered up with T-Mobile and ran an advertisement at the Super Bowl earlier this month, which opened the service to users of other cellular networks.
Other subscribers, that do not use T-Mobile, can avail Starlink on their phones for free through an eSim. As it works with T-Mobile to expand cellular internet coverage, SpaceX regularly launches cellular satellites with its Falcon 9 missions. Most of its launches in February and in 2025 have been for the Starlink satellite constellation – a trend that has been present in earlier years as well.
To wit, after launching a fresh batch of Starlink satellites recently, SpaceX shared a video on X, which shows a batch of 21 satellites being deployed into orbit. The firm launched the Falcon 9 earlier today from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, a mission that saw it land a Falcon 9 booster for the 26th time.
Falcon 9 lands on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, completing the first 26th launch and landing of an orbital class rocket pic.twitter.com/x18IxIGtNk
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 15, 2025
While the Falcon 9 is SpaceX’s workhorse, its medium-lift classification limits the rocket from letting the firm rapidly build out its next-generation Starlink satellite internet constellation. Constellation in the satellite internet market is growing day by day. Not only does Amazon subsidiary Kuiper plan to launch its namesake internet satellites with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, but Apple is also making big moves in the industry by having its satellite partner build new satellites.
SpaceX is the only firm among the three with operational satellites. It also operates the world’s largest satellite connectivity constellation and has gained a key foothold in the commercial aviation market. Starlink also provides internet connectivity on cruise ships, with Norwegian Cruise being the latest to join the network in late January.
According to SpaceX, more than 500 aircraft use Starlink worldwide. These include planes from Qatar Airways and a supersonic aircraft test from Boom Aerospace in January. They also relied on the service to beam down the test through a livestream. The internet service has also enabled SpaceX to livestream its Starship rocket entering the Earth’s atmosphere during multiple tests and provide stunning views of the ship engulfed in plasma.
View of 21 @Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, being deployed in orbit pic.twitter.com/QFHZVnySLF
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 15, 2025