"SpaceX's Inaugural 2024 Falcon 9 Launch: Direct-to-Cell Starlinks Set for Tuesday Liftoff"

SpaceX is set to launch its first Falcon 9 rocket of 2024, carrying 21 Starlink satellites, including the first six with direct-to-cell (DTC) capabilities, from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch, which was delayed from December due to undisclosed issues, is part of SpaceX's ambitious plan to deploy around 840 DTC satellites within six months to provide global communication services, even in remote or disaster-stricken areas. The service will utilize T-Mobile's mid-band PCS spectrum in the U.S., allowing phones to connect directly to satellites when no other networks are available. The mission's first stage booster will attempt a landing on the droneship shortly after liftoff.