SpaceX Launches 20 New Starlink Satellites, Expanding Global Internet Network

The latest batch includes 13 satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities, enhancing connectivity without the need for cell towers.

SpaceX launched 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on September 25, 2024.
The launch brings the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to nearly 7,100, with over 6,300 currently active.
Thirteen of the newly launched satellites feature direct-to-cell capabilities, allowing them to connect directly to phones without additional hardware.
Experts express concerns over the growing number of satellites, citing potential impacts on astronomy and the risk of space debris collisions.
The first-stage booster of the Falcon 9 rocket successfully landed on the 'Of Course I Still Love You' droneship in the Pacific Ocean.