SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday night carrying 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit, adding to the company’s growing broadband internet constellation. The Starlink 17-48 mission lifted off at 8 p.m. PDT (11 p.m. EDT / 0300 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 4 East.
The flight marked the 35th mission for booster B1071, one of SpaceX’s most frequently reused first-stage rockets. After separating from the upper stage about eight minutes after liftoff, the booster landed on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific Ocean, marking the 209th landing on that vessel and the 636th booster landing overall for SpaceX, according to Spaceflight Now.
SpaceX currently operates more than 10,700 Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit, according to Spaceflight Now’s coverage of the mission. The constellation provides broadband internet service globally and continues to expand through regular launches from both Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Booster reusability remains central to SpaceX’s approach to reducing launch costs. The Falcon 9 Block 5 design, which both B1071 and the record-holding B1067 use, has enabled the company to achieve unprecedented reuse rates. B1067 set a record in July 2026 by launching for its 36th flight, while B1071 follows closely behind.
Sources
- Spaceflight Now — Live coverage of the Starlink 17-48 mission, booster B1071 flight history, constellation size, and drone ship landing record
- Space.com — Falcon 9 and Starlink launch reporting
- Facebook (Space Fans) — Booster reuse milestones for B1071 and B1067
