Sun May 25 07:20:00 UTC 2025: ## SpaceX Launches 45th Starlink Mission of the Year from Florida
**Cape Canaveral, FL –** SpaceX continued its rapid launch cadence, successfully launching its 45th Starlink mission of the year on Saturday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at 1:19 p.m. EDT, drawing hundreds of spectators to Florida’s Space Coast.
The mission, dubbed Starlink 12-22, utilized Falcon 9 booster B1069, making its 24th flight. The veteran booster has previously supported missions including cargo resupply to the International Space Station and other Starlink deployments. Following stage separation, B1069 successfully landed on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” marking the vessel’s 110th landing and SpaceX’s 451st booster landing overall.
Of the 23 Starlink satellites onboard, 13 feature Direct to Cell capabilities, expanding SpaceX’s efforts to provide cellular connectivity directly from space. This launch brings the total number of cellular-capable Starlink satellites in orbit to 234.
The launch occurred despite a weather forecast predicting a decreasing chance of favorable conditions as the launch window progressed. Forecasters anticipated the development of thunderstorms inland, potentially steering anvil clouds towards the coast by the end of the launch opportunity.
In other SpaceX news, founder Elon Musk stated that the company’s next-generation Starship program could attempt its first orbital launch as early as next year, emphasizing the extensive testing phase that will precede any crewed missions.
The successful Starlink launch caps a busy week for space enthusiasts, including a recent Falcon 9 launch carrying the Inmarsat 5 F4 communications satellite. Meanwhile, Intuitive Machines has announced a new target launch date of January 12, 2024, for its Nova-C lunar lander, aiming for a historic landing at the Moon’s south pole.
First Piper 