SpaceX is ending its Starlink launches from Cape Canaveral until Starship operations begin, according to Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev. The Starlink 10-49 mission on August 25 was the final planned launch from the Florida spaceport, reducing the area’s monthly launch rate from eight or nine to about two. The shift pushes Starlink missions to Vandenberg Air Force Base while SpaceX prepares Cape Canaveral for Starship flights.
The company also announced plans for "Starbase Louisiana," a new coastal launch facility near Vermilion Parish. The project includes over a dozen launch towers, a $100 billion investment commitment, and aims to conduct thousands of Starship flights annually starting in 2029. The Starlink constellation now has 12,854 satellites launched, with 11,076 in orbit and 11,061 operational.
Space Safety Six data shows six Starlink satellites are in the SOCRATES high-probability conjunction list, though none reach high-risk thresholds. Four satellites have active reentry predictions, with closest approaches ranging from August 26 to 31. Distances during these events vary between 0.023 km and 0.068 km, with relative speeds up to 14.55 km/s.
The Starlink satellites involved in potential conjunctions include STARLINK-36589 near Cosmos 1975, STARLINK-32550 approaching a CZ-2C rocket body, and others like STARLINK-33696 and STARLINK-33756. Reentry predictions for three satellites—STARLINK-1626, STARLINK-1892, and STARLINK-4455—are scheduled between August 26 and 29, with decay windows ranging from 10:03 UTC to 03:40 UTC.
SpaceX’s shift highlights its focus on expanding Starship capabilities while maintaining Starlink operations. The company has not provided a timeline for resuming Florida-based Starlink launches, pending Starship readiness at Cape Canaveral.