SpaceX launched 24 more Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit on Sunday (June 28), continuing to expand its broadband Internet relay network.
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the new batch (Group 17-40) launched from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Takeoff took place at 12:09 pm EDT (1609 GMT or 9:09 am PDT local time).
The Starlink satellites reached orbit about 9 minutes after taking off from Earth and were on their way to be deployed by the Falcon 9 upper stage about an hour later.
Previous missions of Booster B1088
The first stage of the rocket (Booster 1088) completed its 17th flight, landing on the autonomous drone “Of Course I Still Love You” located in the Pacific Ocean.
The 24 satellites increased the total number of active broadcasts on the Starlink network to more than 10,700, according to tracker Jonathan McDowell. The Starlink service provides Internet access to people around the world, as well as cell-to-satellite and onboard Wi-Fi service providers.
Sunday’s launch was the 75th mission for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in 2026.
