SpaceX launched 24 Starlink V2 Mini satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on June 24-25, 2026, continuing the company’s rapid deployment of its internet constellation. The Starlink 17-45 mission lifted off at 8:30 p.m. PDT (11:30 p.m. EDT / 0330 UTC), carrying the satellites to low-Earth orbit on booster B1081, which completed its 25th flight.
The Falcon 9 first stage landed on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ approximately 8.5 minutes after launch, while satellite deployment occurred just over an hour into the flight. The 24 satellites are part of SpaceX’s ongoing effort to expand global broadband coverage through its Starlink constellation, which now operates in 37 countries and continues adding service areas worldwide.
Vandenberg Space Force Base has become SpaceX’s primary launch facility in 2026, hosting the majority of the company’s Falcon 9 missions. According to Spaceflight Now, SpaceX planned seven of eight launches from Vandenberg in June, compared with six launches from Cape Canaveral. This shift reflects SpaceX’s decision to concentrate Starship development and operations at the Florida facility, allowing Falcon 9 operations to dominate the California pad.
The rapid turnaround at Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg has accelerated significantly. The previous Starlink 17-28 mission launched on June 21, just 56 hours before this latest launch, setting a new turnaround record for the pad. SpaceX’s increased cadence at Vandenberg demonstrates the company’s commitment to deploying Starlink satellites at scale to support its growing user base and network coverage goals.
Sources
- Spaceflight Now — Launch details, mission timeline, booster information, and Vandenberg pad turnaround record
- SpaceX — Starlink satellite specifications and mission designation
