SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from Florida on worldwide 300th orbital flight of 2025
For the 300th time this year, a rocket has lifted off for low Earth orbit.
SpaceX on Thursday (Dec. 11), launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The broadband internet relay spacecraft entered Earth orbit about eight and a half minutes after leaving the ground at 5:01 p.m. EST (2201 GMT).
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The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands on its four landing legs after touching down on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 11, 2025. (Image credit: SpaceX)
Previous Booster B1083 missions
The Falcon 9’s first stage (Booster 1083) completed its 16th mission, landing back on the autonomous droneship “Just Read the Instructions,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Starlink network now numbers more than 10,000 satellites, with more than 9,100 active and in use. The commercial service provides internet access to underserved areas around the world, as well as enables cell-to-satellite and airline wifi for select carriers.
Thursday’s launch was SpaceX’s 161st Falcon 9 flight of the year, 606th mission overall and marked the 300th orbital launch attempt worldwide, according to the website Next Spaceflight.
