SpaceX launches Transporter-12 rideshare mission with 131 payloads

SpaceX has launched another mass satellite launch with a total of 131 payloads onboard under Transporter-12, a dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. The flight includes CubeSats, MicroSats, and orbital transfer vehicles.

The mission is carried by a Falcon 9 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with nine Merline engines firing at full power.

Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/leeksuQSjD

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 14, 2025

After liftoff, the first stage separated with hot-staging returned to Earth via boostback burn. This was the second flight for the first-stage booster, which previously supported NROL-126 and landed on Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base after deploying landing legs.

The rocket maker announced that the sonic boom on the booster’s return would have been heard by residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura.

The entirety of the payloads are integrated inside the transporter and start deployment at 54 minutes in the mission time. The deployment is estimated to complete at 2 hours and 22 minutes with orbit insertion for all onboard payloads.

Prior to Transporter-12, SpaceX launched more than 1,100 payloads into orbit for more than 130 customers from different countries via the Rideshare program.

Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on Landing Zone 4 pic.twitter.com/CVvq6eksjv

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 14, 2025

Note – This was the 7th Falcon 9 mission of 2025.

(source)