SpaceX plans to launch 24 Starlink satellites from its Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday after scrapping earlier launch dates.

SAN DIEGO — SpaceX plans to launch another batch of its Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. 

The launch date has been moved from multiple earlier planned launch dates, including Sunday and Monday.

The company plans to launch 24 Starlink satellites from its Falcon 9 rocket. 

According to SpaceX, it is targeting Monday for a Falcon 9 launch of 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

SpaceX’s previous rocket launches were seen by many flying across Southern California skies.


Target for liftoff

The Starlink mission is currently scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 12, between 7:05 p.m. and 11:05 p.m. PT.

This is the 5th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, SpaceX said.  The company said that following the stage separation, the first stage will land on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on SpaceX.com.


Previous SpaceX launches

Previous Falcon 9 launches were live-streamed on the company’s website. 


Photos from previous SpaceX launches seen over San Diego

PHOTOS | SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket seen across San Diego County


What is Falcon 9?

According to SpaceX, Falcon 9 is a “reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond.”

Falcon 9 is considered the world’s first orbital-class reusable rocket.


What is Starlink?

Starlink is “the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more,” according to the service’s website.  

The “constellation” of satellites consists of thousands of satellites that orbit Earth at an altitude of about 550 km, or 341 3/4 miles.   

The satellites connect to antennas that users set up at their homes to provide internet access.  

WATCH RELATED: SpaceX rocket lights up Southern California Monday night

 
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