SpaceX Falcon 9 launches six new Direct to Cell satellites (April 6, 2024)

On Saturday, April 6, 2024, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket with 21 Starlink satellites including six Direct to Cell (DtC) satellites. This is the second DoC satellite mission launch after the first batch released with the first Falcon 9 launch this year.

Direct to Cell provides satellite services for smartphones without requiring a separate connection terminal such as Starlink terminal. SpaceX has planned to release text services by 2024 and Voice & Data and IOT services by 2025.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Lifting Off from Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 6, 2024 (Image Credit: SpaceX)

The launch was officially announced for April 5 but postponed due to unfavorable weather. However, today’s launch gets full support from the weather during sunset.

This first stage launch is completing its sixth flight with this mission, which landed on a droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The mission lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The deployment of these satellites will be completed around 62 minutes in the mission time.