A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Starlink 12-17 mission Saturday night (April 12) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center ( KSC ). The Falcon 9 lifted off from KSC's historic Launch Complex-39A at 8:53 a.m. EDT (0053, April 13 GMT), carrying a stack of 21 Starlink satellites toward low Earth orbit ( LEO ).

SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities, from Cape Canaveral on Saturday night.

After liftoff, the Falcon 9 rocket will travel on a southeast trajectory. No Central Florida sonic booms will be heard, as the first-stage booster will land on the A Shortfall of