SpaceX Set for Falcon 9 Launch of 28 Starlink Satellites

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (KEYT) – SpaceX is gearing up for its next Falcon 9 rocket launch, scheduled to take place Tuesday evening between 8:54 p.m. and 10 p.m. PDT. This mission aims to send 28 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East.

The launch will utilize Falcon 9 booster B1071, marking its 29th flight. Previously, this booster has supported 28 missions, including several for NASA and other organizations. Following liftoff, approximately 8.5 minutes later, the booster is set to land on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You‘ stationed in the Pacific Ocean, which would be its 156th landing.

SpaceX has made significant strides this year, achieving 125 Falcon 9 launches, with 47 of those from Vandenberg. This has made the facility a key player in the company’s operations and launch frequency.

As part of its plan, SpaceX is also preparing future missions, including one for the Space Development Agency on October 14, and another Starlink launch on October 30. The intense pace of launches is a response to increasing demand for satellite internet, aiming to expand broadband services to underserved regions.

Live coverage of the launch will begin about five minutes before liftoff, accessible through X and SpaceX’s website. Residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may potentially hear sonic booms depending on weather conditions during the launch.

With 2025 poised to be a record-breaking year for SpaceX at Vandenberg, officials anticipate more than 70 launches by the year’s end, reflecting the growing capability and ambition of the private aerospace company.