SpaceX successfully launched a new Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on May 20, 2025. The launch, which took place after a brief delay, was the 60th Falcon 9 flight of 2025 and the 43rd Starlink mission this year.
This Falcon 9 featured a first stage making its inaugural flight, a departure from SpaceX's usual practice of reusing boosters. Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage successfully landed on the drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Falcon 9's upper stage continued its journey, deploying the 23 Starlink satellites into their designated LEO positions about 65 minutes after launch. Starlink, now comprising approximately 7,500 operational satellites, continues to expand as the largest satellite megaconstellation ever constructed. This launch further solidifies SpaceX's role in providing global internet access and advancing space technology.