SpaceX continued to rapidly expand its Starlink satellite constellation on Thursday evening, launching another 26 satellites into low Earth orbit as part of its ongoing mission to provide high-speed internet access worldwide.
Credit: SpaceX
The launch took place at 9:54 p.m. EDT (6:54 p.m. local time, 0154 GMT on June 13) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellites were carried aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, marking yet another successful deployment for the private aerospace company led by Elon Musk.
Approximately one hour and one minute after liftoff, the Starlink satellites were scheduled to separate from the rocket’s second stage, adding to the company’s ever-growing orbital infrastructure. With this mission, SpaceX now has more than 7,600 active Starlink satellites in orbit, strengthening its position as the operator of the largest satellite constellation in history.
The mission, designated Starlink 15-6, saw the Falcon 9 first-stage booster (serial number B1081) complete its 15th flight. The booster had already notched 14 previous missions and once again returned safely to Earth, landing on the autonomous droneship Of Course I Still Love You, stationed in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California. This highlights SpaceX's continuing success in rocket reusability — a cornerstone of its cost-saving approach to spaceflight. The company’s current record for the most flights by a single Falcon 9 first stage is 28.
The Starlink initiative, first launched in 2019, aims to offer global internet coverage, especially in remote or underserved areas. In recent months, the constellation has begun incorporating satellites capable of direct-to-cell communication, enabling basic texting and data access directly from smartphones, even without ground-based towers — a leap forward in mobile connectivity.
Thursday's launch was SpaceX’s 72nd Falcon 9 mission of 2025, with 53 of those dedicated to Starlink deployments. The relentless launch cadence underscores SpaceX's ambition to build a robust global communications network in orbit — one that supports everything from home internet access to emergency communications and beyond.
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