The most recent set of Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX into low Earth orbit late Monday afternoon. There were 13 Direct to Cell satellites out of the 21 V2 Mini satellites.

The Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 12-7 mission took off at 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 UTC) from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

With a 95 percent chance of good weather for liftoff, the 45th Weather Squadron predicted a quite perfect launch window. It cited “a small chance of a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation.”

On this mission, the SpaceX fleet’s Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1076, made its 20th launch. The CRS-26, Intelsat IS-40e, and ten Starlink missions were among its prior flights.

It made the 402nd rocket touchdown to date and the 96th landing on ASOG when it touched down on the SpaceX droneship, “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” just over eight minutes after liftoff.

Despite Space Launch Complex 40, its workhorse pad, being out of commission since January 13, SpaceX hopes to begin 2025 with a strong launch tempo. The company’s 12th launch of the month will be Starlink 12-7, and it has up to two more planned by the end of January:

  • Jan. 29 – SpainSat NG-1
  • Jan. 30 – Starlink 11-4

In January 2024, SpaceX launched ten times, compared to seven launches in January 2023. Last November, when it launched 16 times with its Falcon rockets, it had its busiest launch month.

It is aiming for 160 to 180 Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rocket flights in 2025, according to the report. To achieve it, a launch cadence of roughly 13 to 15 launches per month would be required all year long.

Topics #21 Starlink Satellites #Cape Canaveral #Falcon 9 rocket #SpaceX