SpaceX launched 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 4:03:19 p.m. PDT on March 26, 2026. The mission, originally scheduled for March 24, was delayed two days due to unspecified payload or vehicle issues. The Falcon 9 rocket took a southerly path from Space Launch Complex 4E, carrying the latest batch of satellites for SpaceX's global broadband internet service.
The launch followed a long sequence of flights for the Falcon 9's first-stage booster, B1081. This booster, which entered service in August 2023 during the Crew 7 mission, had previously supported 12 Starlink deliveries and other high-profile missions like CRS-29, PACE, and NROL-186. It marked its 23rd flight and successfully landed on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
The satellites deployed about an hour into the flight. This landing was the 186th for the drone ship and the 591st booster landing in SpaceX's history. The mission’s timeline and trajectory were consistent with previous Starlink launches, though the delay highlighted ongoing challenges in preparing payloads for orbital flight.
SpaceX has conducted 17 Starlink missions since 2020, with launches split between Florida’s Cape Canaveral and California’s Vandenberg. The company aims to expand its constellation to over 40,000 satellites to provide global internet coverage. This latest mission added to the growing network, which already serves millions of users in underserved regions.