Watch live: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center with 21 Starlink satellites

Watch live coverage as SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket with 21 satellites for Elon Musk's Starlink internet service. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 12:39 a.m. EST (0539 UTC) on Tuesday, December 31. The first-stage booster, making its 16th flight, will land on SpaceX's drone ship 'Just Read the Instructions', stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, a little more than eight minutes after leaving the launch pad.

The mission, designated Starlink 12-6, will take a south-easterly trajectory on departure from Florida's Space Coast. The 21 satellites include 13 capable of direct to cellphone services.

Commentary by Spaceflight Now's Will Robinson-Smith will start approximately an hour prior to liftoff.

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[blakejohnson]

Landing that booster on the drone ship never gets old.
Wow

[Xocriminal]

Just before the solar maximum... nice👌

[traceyduty]

This is new to me because I never followed the launches but I watched SpaceX in Texas make history I was Soo shocked

[sharonwalker]

Missed the live. But a nice close out to the year. Looking forward to next year and many more flights. Happy new year to everyone.

[grogman]

Great camera work. Thanks for the video.

[Richard-fxg]

21 more satellites to connect the world. Not bad for a Tuesday 🛰️👍

[exterminator]

Thank you for a great year of fantastic streams that have restored my faith in a future for humanity in space. Great work! Greetings to your team and best wishes to you and your families for the new, even more exciting year ahead! Per aspera ad astra! 💫

[Bubbatea]

I was just there watching it being launched at the Base! It was incredibly a beautiful experience to see. So glad :))

[yostification]

Thank you Elon and everyone at SpaceX for all you do for our country.

[KubanKevin]

Oh so that’s what that was in the sky. Cool!

[Angelic_Leyva]

Is there any way you guys could show us the astronauts point of view?

[jstrotha]

3..., 2..., 1..., Make rocket go now!

[LuisM-lk]

What you're guys can see from there.

[traceyduty]

Good morning what's the purpose of this launch? And then in Texas in January?
Just asking because I have not a clue 😂😂😂

[kennedykimanthi]

a section debri from this rocket fell in kenya

[LuisM-lk]

Ananomies please thanks God bless my country Delta hospital Dinuba California

[vincentchung]

Zzzzz cant see anything only black and dark i see .

[Malama_Ki]

I hope Elon can make some real changes in governmental spending.

[JAYYVOO]

Launches at night are totally lame and boring

[juancervantes]

Who would have thought elongated muskrat would turn our to be the biggest piece of shit!? 😂