SpaceX continued the expansion of its broadband web service with the launch of 24 extra Starlink satellites from California on Thursday (Aug. 14).
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 1:05 a.m. EDT (0505 GMT or 10:05 p.m. PDT on Aug. 13 native) from Area Launch Advanced 4 East at Vandenberg Area Power Base. About 9 minutes later, after a nominal ascent, the Starlink Group 17-4 mission reached house.
The Falcon 9’s higher stage, powered by single Merlin engine, was on observe to achieve its deliberate orbit and deploy the satellites about an hour after it left Earth.
Additionally to plan, the Falcon’s first stage (Booster 1093) accomplished its fifth flight, touchdown on the drone ship “Of Course I Nonetheless Love You” within the Pacific Ocean. The entire booster’s missions have been devoted to rising SpaceX’s megaconstellation.
With this launch, there at the moment are greater than 8,100 energetic Starlink satellites out of the almost 9,400 launched since 2018, in accordance with tracker Jonathan McDowell.
Thursday morning’s launch from California was SpaceX’s 98th Falcon 9 mission in 2025 and 516th flight since 2010. It was the 452nd reuse of a Falcon 9 first stage and 487th touchdown.
