SpaceX Set to Launch 24 Starlink Satellites from Vandenberg

SpaceX is poised to launch 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Saturday night. The mission, designated Starlink 17-2, will enhance internet connectivity in polar regions, supporting users in some of the most remote areas of the world.

The launch is scheduled for 8:55 p.m. PDT (11:55 p.m. EDT / 03:55 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 4 East. Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage approximately 30 minutes before the launch, allowing enthusiasts and observers to witness this significant event.

Falcon 9 is utilizing the first stage booster identified as B1075, marking its 19th journey to space. This booster has previously participated in missions that included the Transporter-11 rideshare and the deployment of 15 batches of Starlink satellites. The launch vehicle is expected to execute a precise landing on the droneship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You’, located in the Pacific Ocean about 8.5 minutes post-liftoff. A successful landing would represent the 142nd recovery of this vessel and the 481st booster landing overall for SpaceX.

Upcoming Crew Mission Following Launch

This mission comes as SpaceX prepares for its third and final astronaut launch of the year, scheduled to take place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday at the earliest. The Crew-11 mission will carry four crew members, including astronauts from NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The team arrived in Florida on Saturday afternoon to participate in a launch rehearsal planned for Monday. Among the crew are NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. Their involvement underscores the international collaboration that characterizes modern space exploration.

As SpaceX continues to advance its Starlink satellite network and support human spaceflight, this launch represents another step toward expanding global internet access and enhancing the capabilities of space missions.