In a thrilling turn of events, SpaceX has pushed its much-anticipated launch of Starlink satellites to New Year's Eve, marking what is poised to be the company’s final mission of a record-shattering 2024. Scheduled for a dramatic liftoff at 12:34 a.m. EST, the launch will take place from the iconic Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a window open until 1:28 a.m.

Despite the excitement, the company did not specify the reason behind this last-minute delay. Nevertheless, for SpaceX, this upcoming event represents a significant milestone: it will be the 134th orbital launch of the year, smashing their previous record of 96 set in 2023. Such an accomplishment reflects a staggering nearly 40% increase in activity, further solidifying SpaceX’s dominance in the space industry.

This mission brings additional excitement as it will utilize the same first-stage booster that has previously supported multiple missions, including Crew-6 and several other Starlink deployments. Specifically, this is the 16th flight for this booster, showcasing SpaceX’s innovative reuse strategy, which continues to lower the cost of access to space.

On the technical side, the mission aims to deploy 21 new satellites, 13 of which will be equipped with direct-to-cell technology, further enhancing global connectivity. This launch follows an intense three-day spree for SpaceX, having completed a Starlink launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base and a separate deployment for Astranis at Cape Canaveral just previously.

Despite encountering minor setbacks — such as the incident on July 12, when a Falcon 9's upper stage failed to deploy 21 satellites — SpaceX has displayed exceptional resilience and ingenuity in its ambitious launch schedule. As they prepare for this final mission of the year, all eyes will be on the skies as SpaceX aims to usher in 2025 with another historic launch. Will they succeed? Tune in to find out!