SpaceX launched the Starlink 12-1 mission to low-Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 early Monday morning from Cape Canaveral. The launch time was 5:02 AM. According to the company, 23 Starlink satellites were deployed successfully, including 12 of the communications platform’s Direct-To-Cell capable version. According to SpaceX, “Starlink Direct to Cell network delivers seamless access to texting, voice and data on phones across the globe.”
Photo courtesy SpaceX
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1080 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ to complete its twelfth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit. About the same time that the booster landed, the initial orbit for the payload was achieved, with a short orbit rounding burn just before payload deployment.
B0180 flew today only 14 days after its Starlink 6-69 mission on November 11th, only fourteen days ago. That’s the fastest turnaround on record thus far for a Falcon 9 booster, besting the previous record of 21 days, achieved by B1062 in 2022. Now safely aboard ‘Just Read The Instructions,’ booster and barge will now return with B0180 to Port Canaveral, where B1080 will be offloaded, returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, where it will be inspected, and presumably begin the process of it being prepared for its next mission.
At 6:08 AM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload of Starlink satellites and a successful end to the flight.
Launch Replay
By The Numbers
- SpaceX launch this year
- 434th SpaceX launch all time
- 50th consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch
- 377th Falcon Family Booster landing
- 98th landing on ‘Just Read The Instructions’
- 57th launch from Space Launch Complex 40 this year
Next Launch
Space Coast residents won’t have to wait long for the next launch. SpaceX has a Falcon 9 launch carrying the Starlink 6-76 group planned for late this evening from pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The launch window opens at 10:35 PM and extends to 2:31 AM EST Tuesday morning.
- Date: NET November 25, 2024
- Organization: SpaceX
- Mission: Starlink 6-76
- Rocket: Falcon 9
- Launch Site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center
- Launch Window: 10:35 PM – 2:31 AM EST
- Payload: Starlink satellites
Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.
Author: Charles Boyer
NASA kid from Cocoa Beach, FL, born of Project Apollo parents and family. I’m a writer and photographer sharing the story of spaceflight from the Eastern Range here in Florida.
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