Falcon 9 launches 24 Starlink satellites
On Saturday, July 25, 2026, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff occurred around 10:15 a.m. local time, placing the payload into the intended orbit.
The rocket carried 24 Starlink satellites, each with a mass of approximately 260 kilograms. After separation from the second stage, the satellites were deployed into a low‑Earth orbit where they will assume their positions for the global broadband network.
The launch took place just a few days after a Starship test flight conducted by SpaceX. Although the two missions were scheduled independently, the rapid succession highlights the high launch cadence the company is currently pursuing.
This flight adds to the growing number of Starlink satellites already in orbit. SpaceX intends to expand the constellation to several thousand spacecraft in the coming years to improve internet coverage, especially in rural and underserved regions.