SpaceX launches, lands first stage booster for record-setting 25th time during Starlink flight

SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 booster, B1067, on the Starlink 12-12 mission on Jan. 10, 2025. This was the first time an orbital class rocket launched for a 25th time and went on to land successfully as well. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now

Update 2:37 p.m. (1937 UTC): SpaceX safely landed the first stage booster on the droneship.

SpaceX maintained its rapid pace of launching an orbital mission on average every two days with its Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday afternoon. It also completed a record-breaking 25th landing of an orbital class rocket.

Liftoff of the Starlink 12-12 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) happened at 2:11 p.m. EST (1911 UTC). This will be SpaceX’s 5th Falcon 9 launch in 2025.

In a forecast issued on Thursday, the 45th Weather Squadron reported a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable weather at liftoff, citing no weather constraints.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster for this mission, tail number B1067 in the SpaceX fleet, made a record-setting 25th launch and landing attempt. It entered service in 2021, previously launching four flights to the International Space Station, the Galileo L13 mission for the European Commission and 13 previous batches of Starlink satellites.

A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, B1067 landed on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions,’ marked the 106th booster landing on JRTI and the 395th booster landing to date.

Among the 21 Starlink satellites onboard the Falcon 9 rocket are 13 that feature Direct to Cell capabilities. While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hasn’t granted full implementation of the DTC service, on Thursday, it once again authorized emergency use for those impacted by the fires in the greater Los Angeles area.

Earlier in the day, SpaceX announced it would be providing a month of free Starlink service to those impacted by the fires. It also sent free kits to agencies, organizations and shelters helping to respond to the deadly and destructive fires.

For those in the Los Angeles area, the @Starlink team and @TMobile have enabled basic texting (SMS) through our Direct to Cell satellites. You can now text loved ones, text 911 and receive emergency alerts.

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 10, 2025