SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites, Pushing Network Near 10,500 Working Units
Updated
Updated · Space.com · May 20
SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites, Pushing Network Near 10,500 Working Units
17 articles · Updated · Space.com · May 20
Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg at 10:46 p.m. EDT and placed the 24 Starlink satellites into preliminary orbit about 8 minutes 40 seconds later.
The Group 17-42 payload was scheduled for deployment roughly 50 minutes after launch, extending SpaceX's low Earth orbit broadband constellation.
Booster B1103 completed its second flight and landed on the Pacific droneship Of Course I Still Love You.
Tuesday's mission was SpaceX's 58th launch of 2026 and its 651st successful launch since 2010, with tracker Jonathan McDowell putting the Starlink network at just under 10,500 working satellites.
As NASA's moon deadline looms, is this test a make-or-break moment in Starship's race against rival Blue Origin?
With a record IPO weeks away, can Starship's test flight overcome its explosive past to justify a $2 trillion valuation?
Once public, will shareholder demands force SpaceX to prioritize profits over Elon Musk's ultimate Mars colonization dream?
Starship V3’s 2026 Test: Engineering Breakthroughs, IPO Impact, and the Race to the Moon and Mars
Overview
The Starship V3 test flight, set for May 19, 2026, is a pivotal moment for SpaceX as it aims to launch the world's largest rocket from South Texas on a groundbreaking trajectory. This mission is crucial not only for showcasing new elements that significantly boost Starship’s capabilities, but also for proving SpaceX’s readiness for NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission and supporting the company’s plans to go public. By integrating advanced technologies and targeting ambitious goals, the V3 test flight stands at the center of SpaceX’s strategy to lead in space exploration and commercial innovation.