SpaceX nailed back-to-back Falcon 9 launches in April 2025, blasting off 46 Starlink satellites within 24 hours. The first launch on April 27 used a veteran booster on its 20th flight, while the second introduced a fresh rocket to the fleet. Both missions stuck their landings on drone ships in the Atlantic. The dual launches marked SpaceX’s 50th flight of 2025 and expanded the Starlink constellation to over 7,264 satellites – and they’re just getting started.
SpaceX flexed its operational muscle in late April 2025, blasting off two separate Falcon 9 rockets within 24 hours. The company’s relentless pace kicked off with the 250th dedicated Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on April 27, followed by another launch from Kennedy Space Center the next night at 10:34 p.m. ET. Talk about a busy weekend.
The launches couldn’t have been more different when it came to their rockets. The first mission featured a veteran booster making its impressive 20th flight – practically a senior citizen in rocket terms. Meanwhile, the second launch introduced a fresh-faced Falcon 9 booster to the fleet, making its debut flight. Both rockets, experienced and rookie alike, stuck their landings on SpaceX‘s drone ships bobbing in the Atlantic Ocean. The newer booster touched down on A Shortfall of Gravitas, marking the droneship’s 106th successful landing. The veteran booster completed its thirteenth Starlink mission with this launch.
These missions weren’t just about showing off SpaceX’s rapid turnaround capabilities. Each rocket carried 23 Starlink satellites, with the April 27 batch including 13 satellites equipped with fancy direct-to-cell technology. The constellation now boasts over 7,264 satellites, with 6,591 actually doing their job up there.
SpaceX’s latest launches added 46 Starlink satellites, expanding their working constellation to 6,591 units, with new direct-to-cell capabilities.
Weather cooperated nicely for the double header, with the 45th Weather Squadron giving a 75% thumbs-up for favorable conditions. Some pesky cumulus clouds tried to crash the party, but the three-hour launch window provided plenty of wiggle room to work around them.
These launches marked some serious milestones for SpaceX. Not only was this the company’s 250th Starlink mission overall, but the April 28 launch represented their 50th Falcon 9 flight of 2025. That’s a blistering pace that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.
The whole operation went off without a hitch – from liftoff to satellite deployment about an hour later. SpaceX’s coordination between Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station proved that back-to-back launches aren’t just possible; they’re becoming routine. Just another weekend at the office for Elon’s rocket company.
