CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — SpaceX launched a batch of Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday, adding capacity to its low-Earth-orbit constellation and its expanding direct-to-cell service.

The launch continued SpaceX's cadence of multiple Starlink missions each month from its Florida and California sites. Many recent batches have included satellites equipped with direct-to-cell payloads, which allow standard mobile phones to connect to the network without specialised hardware. SpaceX has partnered with carriers including T-Mobile in the United States for the service.

The Falcon 9 first-stage booster was expected to return for a landing on a droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Reused boosters have become central to the company's ability to sustain frequent launches at lower cost, with SpaceX flying many of its boosters well beyond a dozen missions each.

The expansion of direct-to-device connectivity has drawn regulatory attention worldwide. India's Telecom Regulatory Authority recently advanced its review of Starlink's direct-to-device offering, while carriers in several markets weigh partnerships. Each additional launch increases the network's coverage and throughput.

SpaceX aims to complete a record number of orbital launches in 2026, with Starlink missions making up the bulk of its manifest. The company said further launches were scheduled in the coming days from both coasts.