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 ).

Among the 21 satellites launched, 13 feature Direct to Cell capabilities aimed at enhancing connectivity in remote areas.

After several delays earlier in the week, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A at 8:53 pm on Saturday, carrying 21 Starlink satellites into orbit. (Pict