SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites from California
SpaceX has successfully launched a new batch of 24 Starlink satellites, enhancing its broadband internet service. The Falcon 9 rocket took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on August 14, 2025, at 1:05 a.m. EDT (0505 GMT, 10:05 p.m. PDT on August 13). This mission, designated Starlink Group 17-4, marks another step in SpaceX’s efforts to expand its satellite internet capabilities.
The Falcon 9 rocket’s ascent was nominal, reaching space approximately nine minutes after launch. The upper stage, powered by a single Merlin engine, is expected to deploy the satellites into their designated orbit about an hour post-launch. This successful deployment contributes to the growing network of Starlink satellites aimed at providing high-speed internet access to underserved and remote areas globally.
Details of the Launch and Satellite Deployment
The first stage of the Falcon 9, known as Booster 1093, completed its fifth flight and successfully landed on the drone ship named “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean. All previous missions of this booster have focused on expanding SpaceX’s megaconstellation of satellites.
With this launch, the total number of operational Starlink satellites has now surpassed 8,100, out of nearly 9,400 launched since the program’s inception in 2018, according to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell. Thursday’s mission represents SpaceX’s 98th Falcon 9 flight in 2025 and the 516th flight of the Falcon 9 series since its debut in 2010. Additionally, this launch marks the 452nd reuse of a Falcon 9 first stage and the 487th landing of a booster.
As SpaceX continues to advance its satellite internet offerings, the company is poised to play a significant role in the future of global communications, providing a vital service to areas where traditional internet access is limited or unavailable.
