SpaceX Launches 21 Starlink Satellites, Including 13 with Direct-to-Cell Capabilities
The latest Starlink mission seeks to enhances mobile coverage with Direct-to-Cell Technology
(Cape Canaveral, Florida) (SpaceX)[https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-12-3] successfully launched 21 Starlink satellites – including 13 with direct-to-cell (DTC) capabilities – into low-Earth orbit (LEO) early this morning (Feb. 4) at 5:15 a.m. ET (1015 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Photo of SpaceX’s launch of 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities courtesy of a post on SpaceX’s X account, @spacex.
The mission included 13 satellites equipped with Direct-to-Cell capabilities, aimed at expanding global connectivity.
The launch marked the 21st flight for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster supporting the mission. The booster previously launched notable payloads such as OneWeb 1, SES 18+19, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F1, CRS-24, and 17 Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, the booster successfully landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Thus far in 2025, SpaceX has launched 14 Falcon 9 missions, with nine of them being Starlink lights, per Space.com.
According to Space.com and astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, SpaceX currently maintains nearly 7,000 Starlink satellites in LEO.
