SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites from Florida’s Space Coast early on Feb. 4.

A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 5:14 a.m. EDT, carrying 13 satellites with direct-to-cell capability.

The rocket’s first stage landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean eight minutes after launch.

This marked the 21st launch and landing for this booster, with 16 of its past 20 flights supporting Starlink missions.

The upper stage will deploy the satellites into low Earth orbit about 65 minutes after liftoff.

SpaceX has launched 14 Falcon 9 missions in 2025 so far, nine dedicated to Starlink, Space.com has reported.

The company launched over 130 Falcon 9 missions last year, with about two-thirds focused on expanding the Starlink network.

SpaceX now operates nearly 7,000 Starlink satellites in orbit.

Written by B.C. Begley