SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites on 50th mission of 2026
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Apr 27
SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites on 50th mission of 2026
5 articles · Updated · Space.com · Apr 27
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, and booster 1088 completed its 15th landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You.
The satellites were deployed a little over 61 minutes after launch, expanding SpaceX's active Starlink constellation to nearly 10,300 spacecraft; 42 of its 50 launches this year have been Starlink missions.
The pace keeps SpaceX on track for about 160 orbital launches in 2026, near last year's 165-record total, as it targets a delayed Falcon Heavy flight on Wednesday and a 12th Starship test next month.
Can SpaceX’s ambitious launch pace and satellite expansion be sustained without creating major risks for space safety or the environment?
With Starlink’s rapid growth and rivals facing setbacks, could a single company soon dominate global satellite internet—and what would that mean for users?