SpaceX Launches 25 Starlink Satellites from Vandenberg

Falcon 9 rocket lifts off, marking the fourth mission for the first-stage booster.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:41pm

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 25 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday afternoon. The launch marked the fourth mission for the first-stage booster, which has now supported the NROL-105 mission and three previous Starlink launches.

Why it matters

SpaceX's Starlink satellite network is designed to provide high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas around the world. This latest launch continues to build out the Starlink constellation, which aims to eventually have thousands of satellites in orbit.

The details

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg at 2:52 p.m. PT on Friday, March 20, 2026. Guardians and Airmen at Vandenberg Space Force Base supported the Starlink 17-15 mission. After stage separation, the first-stage booster landed on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

  • The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 2:52 p.m. PT on Friday, March 20, 2026.

The players

SpaceX

A private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk.

Vandenberg Space Force Base

A United States Space Force base located in California, used for military space launch programs.

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What’s next

SpaceX plans to continue launching Starlink satellites on a regular basis to build out the global internet network.

The takeaway

This Starlink launch is another step forward in SpaceX's ambitious plan to provide high-speed internet access worldwide, leveraging its reusable rocket technology to make frequent satellite deployments more feasible.