Falcon 9 delivers 23 Starlink satellites to the constellation from Florida

Falcon 9 delivers 23 Starlink satellites to the constellation from Florida

SpaceX successfully launched 23 Starlink satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The mission, designated as Starlink 12-24, was executed using a Falcon 9 rocket and is part of SpaceX's ongoing effort to expand its Starlink broadband constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO).

The launch window for the mission opened at 9:05 a.m. ET and closed at 1:02 p.m. ET. The 45th Weather Squadron provided a 50% chance of liftoff due to concerns over cumulus clouds and surface electric fields [3]. The mission was initially scheduled for Tuesday morning but was delayed due to forecasted poor conditions in the ascent corridor.

The Falcon 9's first stage, booster B1083, landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the 12th mission for this particular booster. Two of its previous missions were crewed launches [3]. The mission marked the 70th Falcon 9 launch of 2025, with 52 of those flights dedicated to building out the Starlink megaconstellation [1].

The 23 satellites from the Starlink company will join the nearly 7,700 operational satellites already in orbit, providing internet service to many parts of Earth. Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has been recording Starlink satellites and documented that 7,714 are in orbit, with 6,821 in operational orbit before this launch [3].

This launch is part of a busy schedule for SpaceX, which also has a crewed mission scheduled for the following day. The Axiom Space Mission 4 crewed launch is set for no earlier than 8:00 a.m. on June 11 from Kennedy Space Center [2]. The mission will carry astronauts Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu to the International Space Station.

SpaceX's ongoing investment in Starlink is expected to continue, with the company aiming to provide global broadband coverage. The company's focus on reusable rockets and rapid launch schedules has positioned it as a leader in the space industry, attracting significant investment and attention from financial markets.

References:
[1] https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-starlink-satellites-to-orbit-on-70th-falcon-9-flight-of-the-year-photos
[2] https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/spacex/2025/06/10/back-to-back-launch-days-two-spacex-rocket-set-axiom-astronauts-starlink-florida-cape-canaveral/84034524007/
[3] https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/space/2025/06/10/spacex-starlink-12-24