KENNEDY SPACE CENTER -- SpaceX is preparing for its third mission of 2025, just one week into the new year.
The company plans to send another batch of Starlink satellites into space on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 10:27 a.m. ET.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will launch 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Backup opportunities for the launch will be available until 2:17 p.m. ET on Wednesday. If liftoff does not happen today, SpaceX will plan to launch again on Thursday, Jan. 9, starting at 9:59 a.m. ET.
This is the third flight for the first stage booster, B1086, which previously launched GOES-U and a Starlink mission.
Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX's Starlink Group 12-11 mission will send 21 satellites to join thousands of others in orbit, providing internet service to many parts of the globe.
Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, tracks Starlink satellites.