A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base (SLC-4E) Monday evening, delivering 27 new satellites for the Starlink network into low Earth orbit. The mission marked the company’s 60th Falcon 9 launch from California in 2025.
The launch took place at 9:28 p.m. Pacific Time, corresponding to 05:28 UTC Tuesday. The payload consisted of 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, part of SpaceX’s ongoing effort to expand its global broadband-internet constellation.
A first-stage booster carrying tail number B1081 supported the launch. This booster was flying for the 20th time, underlining the reuse model that has become central to SpaceX’s operations. About 8.5 minutes after liftoff the booster was expected to land on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
The December 1 liftoff brings fresh growth to the Starlink constellation. The increased cadence of launches from Vandenberg shows that SpaceX is relying heavily on its West Coast operations to fulfill demand, for both commercial broadband and global coverage.
Earlier in 2025, the company completed several other Starlink launches from Vandenberg. For example, a June 28 mission carried 26 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into orbit. Another launch in October sent up a batch of Starlink satellites in a mission from the same base.
Frequent reuse of boosters also reduces cost per launch. The same Falcon 9 rockets are being flown multiple times, making the use of tail number B1081 on its twentieth flight a demonstration of how routine reuse has become.
Vandenberg Space Force Base plays an important role in launching satellites into polar or high-inclination orbits. Such orbits are often used for global communications coverage or for Earth observation. The facility complements SpaceX’s East Coast launch sites, helping the company balance launch demand and schedule pressure.
In 2025, Vandenberg has handled a significant share of Falcon 9 launches for Starlink alone. This mission reinforces the ongoing reliance on the base’s pad SLC-4E for Starlink deployments. The regular launch cadence from Vandenberg helps carry forward SpaceX’s broader satellite-deployment plans.
More Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg are already scheduled in the coming weeks. According to public manifest listings, upcoming missions will continue to deploy Starlink satellites. The predictable cadence underlines how satellite-internet constellations and reusable rockets are now part of a regular operational rhythm.
As the Starlink network expands further, additional launch successes such as this one will play a key role in supporting global broadband access, especially in regions where traditional Internet infrastructure is limited.
The evening launch from Vandenberg adds another chapter in the pace of modern space operations. The combination of reliable rockets, satellite-internet demand, and a well-used West Coast launch site shows that routine orbital deployments are increasingly the norm.
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