SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 8:23:09 p.m. PDT (11:23:09 p.m. EDT / 0323:09 UTC) on April 22, 2026, carrying 24 Starlink satellites. The mission, named Starlink 17-14, marks the 40th Starlink launch of the year and adds to the company’s growing constellation of over 10,200 satellites in low Earth orbit. The rocket’s first stage booster, B1100, flew on a south-southwesterly trajectory after liftoff. SpaceX confirmed the booster landed successfully on the droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ about eight minutes after launch. This was B1100’s fifth flight, following previous missions including NROL-105 and three other Starlink batches. The landing marked the 192nd booster landing on the droneship and the 602nd overall for SpaceX. The mission’s success continues SpaceX’s record of reusing Falcon 9 boosters, which has become a key part of the company’s operations. SpaceX’s Starlink project aims to provide global broadband internet by deploying thousands of satellites. The 24 new satellites will join the existing network, expanding coverage and capacity. The launch was visible across much of the West Coast, with clear skies allowing observers to track the rocket’s ascent. SpaceX has conducted numerous launches from Vandenberg in recent years, leveraging the site’s access to polar orbits. The company’s ability to reuse boosters has significantly reduced the cost of spaceflight, a factor that has helped SpaceX secure contracts for both government and commercial missions. With this launch, SpaceX continues to dominate the commercial space industry, outpacing competitors in both frequency and reliability of launches. The Starlink constellation is a critical part of SpaceX’s long-term goals, which include enabling global internet access and supporting future missions to the Moon and Mars.