SpaceX Plans Unprecedented 144 Rocket Launches in 2024 for Starlink's Direct to Cell Service Rollout

Intensive launch schedule aims to expand Starlink satellite internet service, with introduction of "Starlink Direct to Cell" in partnership with T-Mobile, targeting "cellphone tower in space" capabilities for areas with no cell coverage.

SpaceX plans to launch 144 rockets in 2024 to support the rollout of Starlink's Direct to Cell service, a significant step up in its launch schedule compared to previous years.
The company's new service, developed in partnership with T-Mobile, is described as 'a cellphone tower in space' and will offer mobile services, starting with text messaging in 2024 and adding calls and web browsing in 2025.
The intensified launch schedule will target the expansion of SpaceX's satellite internet service, especially in areas with no cell coverage—an application mentioned by founder Elon Musk as particularly useful during emergencies.
Maintaining this launch rate will require more than just increased manpower; SpaceX has incorporated automation throughout the entire process and focuses on reliability to prevent delays. This aggressive goal is pushing the company to innovate in ways it wouldn't have pursued otherwise.
SpaceX's Direct to Cell service and aggressive launch schedule come amid increasing competition in the satellite internet sector, with companies like Amazon's Project Kuiper also working to establish their own networks of satellites.