SpaceX launches 23 Starlink internet satellites from Florida

SpaceX launched another batch of its broadband satellites from Florida early Sunday morning (Dec. 8).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida on Dec. 8, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX)

It was the second liftoff and touchdown for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description.

The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, successfully deployed the 23 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) as planned.

A black and white spacex falcon 9 rocket first stage sits on the deck of a ship at sea at night. — The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rests on the deck of a ship at sea shortly after launching 23 Starlink satellites from Florida on Dec. 8, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX)

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Sunday morning's launch was the 123rd Falcon 9 liftoff of the year. Nearly 70% of these missions have been devoted to building out the Starlink megaconstellation, the largest network of satellites ever assembled.

LEO currently houses more than 6,800 operational Starlink spacecraft, about 350 of which are capable of beaming service directly to cellphones.

Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, "Out There," was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Michael on Twitter.