On Monday, August 18 at 9:26 a.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 24 Starlink smallsats to low-Earth orbit to join the Starlink constellation from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Starlink megaconstellation has more than 8,100 active units, and totals over 9,400 Starlink satellites that have been launched since 2018.
This was the 100th Falcon 9 flight of 2025. It was SpaceX’s 103rd mission overall for the year, including three suborbital test flights of Starship, the rocket that will eventually transport humans to the Moon and Mars.
This was the ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57 and now five Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX moves launch of Starlink Group 17-5 with 24 smallsats to Monday from California
On Monday, August 18, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch Starlink Group 17-5 at 8:44 AM – 12:44 PM PDT from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg, SFB, California, into low Earth orbit. The 24 smallsats will join the Starlink constellatiion to provide internet to the world.
This site has witnessed the launch of 208 rockets, including 208 orbital launch attempts. While Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, has been the site for 822 rocket launches.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
The forecast calls for a temperature of 60°F, clear skies, 0% cloud cover and a wind speed of 11mph.
This will be the ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57 and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
SpaceX readies for Sunday launch of 24 smallsats of Starlink Group 17-5 from California
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is targeted to launch 24 Starlink satellites to add to the Starlink constellation in low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The launch is scheeduled for 8:44 AM – 12:44 PM PDT
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
This will be the ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57 and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.