SpaceX launches 21 Starlink broadband satellites to orbit from Florida (video, photos) Tuesday's launch was also SpaceX's third Falcon 9 launch in three days, following a Starlink mission launched from California and a four-satellite launch for Astranis from the company's other Florida launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. To plan, the Falcon 9 first stage that launched this mission returned to Earth about 8 minutes after lifting off and landed on board the droneship "Just Read the Instructions" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket stands atop a droneship after landing in the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX via X) The Falcon 9's upper stage successfully deployed the 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This was the 16th flight for this particular first stage booster, according to a mission description posted to SpaceX’s website. It previously was used in the launch of Crew-6, BlueBird-1, USSF-124, mPOWER-B and 11 other Starlink missions. Get the Space.com Newsletter