Fri May 23 22:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

SpaceX successfully launched a brand-new Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday, May 20th at 11:19 p.m. EDT, deploying 23 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch was initially scheduled for Monday but was aborted just before liftoff for undisclosed reasons. This flight marked the first for this particular Falcon 9’s first stage, which successfully landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions.” This mission was the 60th Falcon 9 flight and the 43rd Starlink mission of 2025.

**News Article:**

**SpaceX Launches New Falcon 9, Adds 23 Satellites to Starlink Constellation**

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – A brand-new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soared into the night sky from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday, May 20th, successfully deploying 23 Starlink broadband satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch, which occurred at 11:19 p.m. EDT, marked the 60th Falcon 9 flight of 2025 and the 43rd dedicated Starlink mission this year.

The launch was initially scheduled for Monday evening but was aborted moments before liftoff. SpaceX has not yet released the reason for the delay.

This particular Falcon 9 first stage was making its maiden voyage, a rarity for the company known for its reusable rocket technology. Approximately eight minutes after launch, the booster completed its mission by landing on the SpaceX drone ship “Just Read the Instructions,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The upper stage continued its journey, deploying the 23 Starlink satellites into their designated orbits about 65 minutes after launch. These additions contribute to the ever-expanding Starlink megaconstellation, which currently consists of around 7,500 operational satellites.

Starlink aims to provide global internet access, and SpaceX continues to launch new satellites to improve coverage and capacity.

Read More