SpaceX completed its 2024 launch schedule by launching a fresh set of Starlink V2 Mini satellites into orbit, some of which had direct-to-cell capabilities. At 12:39 a.m. EST on Tuesday, December 31, the Starlink 12-6 mission blasted out from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was SpaceX’s 132nd and last Falcon 9 launch of the year, which was a major victory for the company’s ambitions to increase internet connectivity worldwide.

Mission Overview

According to reports, 21 Starlink broadband satellites were launched into low Earth orbit by the Falcon 9 rocket. According to reports, 13 of these satellites have direct-to-cell capabilities, which improve connectivity in far-flung locations. Originally planned for December 30 at 1:02 a.m. EST, the mission was postponed because of launch preparations.

Today marks the 16th flight of the Falcon 9 booster used for this mission, designated B1078. This booster has already supported 11 Starlink missions, Crew-6, and USSF-124. The booster made a successful landing on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions,” which is positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the 104th landing on the droneship and the 390th in SpaceX’s history overall, according to the report.

A Record-Setting Year

The Starlink constellation is currently the largest satellite network in the world, with approximately 6,850 active satellites, according to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell. A year filled with accomplishments, including 89 launches unique to Starlink, culminated in this last mission.