SpaceX Launches New Starlink Satellites and Advances Starship Development with Re-entry Experiments

SpaceX successfully launched 21 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral on February 26, marking the company's 24th Falcon 9 mission of 2025. The mission, Starlink 12-13, utilized a new Falcon 9 booster, designated B1092, which returned to Earth, landing on the drone ship 'Just Read the Instructions.' SpaceX currently operates over 7,000 Starlink satellites providing global high-speed internet access. Simultaneously, SpaceX is advancing its Starship program. The seventh Starship flight test occurred on January 16, with the booster successfully recovered by the launch tower's 'chopstick' arms. However, the upper-stage engines experienced premature shutdowns, leading to a loss of telemetry and vehicle explosion. The next Starship flight includes plans for payload deployment of four Starlink simulators and re-entry experiments to facilitate the return of the upper stage. The Super Heavy booster features upgraded avionics for enhanced reliability. SpaceX aims to make Starship a fully reusable vehicle for future lunar missions under NASA's Artemis program and eventual Mars exploration.