SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites from Vandenberg

This morning, SpaceX successfully launched 24 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch occurred from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:26 a.m. EDT (4:26 a.m. GMT) and is part of SpaceX’s ongoing effort to expand its global satellite network.

Approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage safely returned and landed on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You,” located in the Pacific Ocean. This particular booster, B1082, is making its 16th flight—12 of which have been dedicated to deploying Starlink satellites.

Meanwhile, the rocket’s upper stage continued to carry the satellites toward low Earth orbit, where they are scheduled to be deployed about 62.5 minutes after launch. The current mission marks SpaceX’s 123rd Falcon 9 launch of the year, with 15 launches occurring in September alone.

Most of these missions, over 70%, are focused on building the Starlink constellation, which now consists of nearly 8,500 active satellites, according to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.