Starlink Mission Set to Launch Tonight From Vandenberg SFB
The Starlink 17-50 mission will add 24 satellites to SpaceX’s megaconstellation, which now totals around 11,000 in orbit, the company said.
- On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, SpaceX launched 24 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California using a Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off at 8:45 p.m. PDT from Space Launch Complex 4 East.
- This mission continues rapid expansion of the Starlink megaconstellation, which now consists of over 11,000 operational satellites. SpaceX has conducted hundreds of dedicated launches to build out the global internet network since the program's inception.
- The Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1097 completed its 12th flight by landing on the SpaceX droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific Ocean, marking the 219th recovery on the vessel.
- Residents across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties experienced sonic booms as the rocket broke the sound barrier. Public viewing sites near Lompoc allowed spectators to observe the liftoff in person.
- Future operations will shift toward the larger Starship vehicle to support next-generation V3 satellites. SpaceX has applied for Federal Communications Commission authority to deploy a Gen3 constellation of up to 100,000 satellites.
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SpaceX achieves incredible milestone with Starlink program
SpaceX has achieved an incredible milestone by launching its 11,000th Starlink satellite into orbit. This accomplishment occurred during the Starlink Group 17-50 mission, which lifted off on August 19 at 04:01 UTC from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Falcon 9 launches 24 @Starlink satellites from California pic.twitter.com/UscpmAxDls — SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 19, 2026 A Falcon 9 rocket carried 24 Starli…
SpaceX conducted its 100th space mission this year. Falcon 9 launched another 24 Starlink satellites, and its first stage successfully returned to Earth.
On 18 August, SpaceX logged its 100th launch of 2026, hitting that mark two months faster than it did in 2024 — a company that flew 25 times in 2020 is now lifting off more than three times a week
A rocket launch used to be an event. You cleared your schedule, found the livestream, told people about it afterward. That reflex is worth keeping in mind, because what SpaceX did in the small hours of 19 August did not feel like an event at all. It felt like a shift change. The mission itself was ordinary by the company’s own standards. A Falcon 9 carrying 24 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, crossin…
Starlink mission set to launch tonight from Vandenberg SFB
The U.S. Space Force has approved the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit on Tuesday night from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Vandenberg’s Next Mission: SpaceX Rocket Launch Tuesday Night
What: Falcon 9 rocket launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. When: Between 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to SpaceX. If needed, the team has backup opportunities during the same time period Wednesday. Where: Space Launch Complex-4 on South Base. Landing: The first-stage booster, making its 12th flight, will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship positioned in the Pacific Ocean. Why: Deliver 24 satellites i…
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