SpaceX launches 13 new Direct to Cell satellites (June 4)

Tonight, SpaceX launched a new Falcon 9 mission carrying 13 new Direct to Cell satellites to low-Earth orbit. The company has started building this constellation of satellites capable of providing direct satellite connectivity to smartphones and other devices.

Previous demonstration shows that a Direct to Cell satellite mobile service doesn’t require any additional hardware upgrades. Instead, it works similarly to a mobile network connection.

The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch payload fairing also included 7 Starlink satellites. SpaceX confirmed that the weather was 95 percent favorable for this flight.

After stage separation, the first stage landed on a droneship after deploying its landing legs. This was the 20th flight for the first stage booster. It previously supported CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HORBIRD 13G, mPOWER-a, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Merah Putih 2, 11 Starlink missions including the latest.

(source)