Merritt Island, United States - December 23, 2024 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – In a midnight spectacle, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket soared into the sky at 12:35 a.m. EST on 23 December, delivering 21 Starlink satellites into orbit and breaking its own turnaround record for pad 39A. This rapid launch, just five days and seven hours after the previous mission, introduced 13 satellites equipped for direct-to-cellphone connections. T-Mobile plans to beta-test text messaging via these Starlink satellites, marking a new era in mobile connectivity. The Falcon 9 first-stage booster, making its 14th flight, flawlessly returned to Earth, landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions east of the Bahamas. The satellites are set to enter their designated orbit approximately an hour after liftoff, continuing SpaceX's expansion of its global internet network.