The first hour of Monday, SpaceX launched their own method of delivery before the holidays − a Falcon 9 rocket.
At 12:35 a.m., the rocket lit up the cloudy Florida night sky as it rumbled to orbit. Its delivery − the next batch of SpaceX Starlink internet satellites. This batch included 21 satellites total, with 13 of them for Starlink mobile service. This specific mission was referred to as Starlink 12-2.
Eight-and-a-half minutes after lift off, the first stage booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship on the Atlantic Ocean. The booster saw its fourteenth flight, with previous missions including: seven Starlink missions, Axiom-2, Axiom-3, CRS-30, SES 24, Cygnus NG-21, and Euclid.
Overall, this was the Space Coast’s 91st launch of the year.
When is the next launch?Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida
After weather delayed the launch of four satellites for the company Astranis Space Technologies, the launch attempt on Friday, Dec. 20 saw a rare last second abort. SpaceX further delayed the mission again Saturday evening, stating that after reviewing data they would be standing down from the launch. SpaceX has yet to provide a new launch date.
Be sure to follow the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team for the latest from the Space Coast.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
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