A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Station at 8:38 p.m. EST (5:38 p.m. local time or 01:38 GMT on February 23). The mission marked another step in SpaceX’s ambitious plan to provide high-speed internet access worldwide, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
As planned, the Falcon 9’s first stage successfully returned to Earth approximately eight minutes after liftoff. It made a precise landing on the autonomous drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 23, 2025
According to SpaceX, the booster used in this mission completed its 11th flight, showcasing the durability of the Falcon 9 system. This was also its eighth mission dedicated to deploying Starlink satellites.
Meanwhile, the Falcon 9’s upper stage continued its journey to low Earth orbit (LEO), where it was set to release the satellites approximately 62 minutes after liftoff. Once operational, these satellites will contribute to the growing Starlink constellation, enhancing global broadband coverage.
This latest mission marks SpaceX’s 23rd Falcon 9 launch of 2025, with 17 of those dedicated to Starlink. SpaceX has now deployed over 8,000 Starlink satellites in total. So far in 2025 alone, the company has launched 376 satellites. As of February 21, 7,078 Starlink satellites remain in active orbit, providing internet connectivity to millions worldwide.
(Edited by : Priyanka Deshpande)
