.png)
On May 20th, SpaceX successfully launched a brand-new Falcon 9 booster rocket, marking its 60th Falcon 9 mission in 2025. This rocket transports 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low-Earth orbit. Of those, 13 have Direct to Cell capability. The launch was originally scheduled for 11:58 p.m. EDT on May 19 (0358 UTC on May 20), however it was canceled just before liftoff for reasons the firm did not immediately explain. It was successfully launched on Tuesday (May 20) at 11:19 p.m. EDT (0319 GMT on May 21) from the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
About the launch
According to SpaceX's mission synopsis, this was the first launch of the Falcon 9's (booster B1095) first stage. While most recent SpaceX flights have reused Falcon 9 boosters, a key component of the company's cost-cutting and sustainability plan, Tuesday's launch marked a rare first-stage debut.
The rocket successfully completed its primary mission, separating from the upper stage around two and a half minutes after liftoff. About eight minutes later, the rocket landed precisely on the SpaceX drone ship "Just Read the Instructions," which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This seamless recovery prepares the rocket for future reusability.
Technical Advancement
Of the 23 satellites on board, 13 were configured with direct-to-cell technology, which allows satellite communication to mobile phones, particularly in places without terrestrial infrastructure. After reaching space, the rocket's second stage executed a brief engine fire to circularize the orbit before releasing the satellites around 65 minutes after launch.
Starlink is the biggest satellite megaconstellation ever built, with around 7,500 operating satellites at the time. As seen by Tuesday's action, that number is steadily increasing.
