SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral on January 27, including 13 with direct-to-cellphone capability.

The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage successfully returned to Earth, landing on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” after eight minutes.

The upper stage continued to orbit with the satellites, which will be deployed about 65 minutes later, Space.com has reported.

This marks SpaceX’s 12th Falcon 9 mission in 2025, with eight Starlink flights, bringing the total number of operational Starlink satellites to over 6,900.

Written by B.C. Begley