On December 8, 2025, at approximately 3:34 AM. Pacific Time, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base (SLC-4E) in California. The mission carried 28 new Starlink broadband internet satellites into low-Earth orbit, as part of Starlink’s ongoing constellation expansion.
Roughly 8.5 minutes after launch, the first-stage booster executed a successful propulsive landing on the drone-ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific — reinforcing the viability and consistency of reusable-rocket operations.
🌐 What This Launch Means
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Boosting global connectivity — The new satellites will help Starlink improve coverage and capacity, especially in underserved or remote areas that lack traditional broadband infrastructure.
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Routine, high-cadence launches — With dozens of Starlink launches now happening each year, what once were headline-making events are becoming part of a regular deployment rhythm. This helps build the constellation steadily.
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Reusability enabling scale — The booster’s recovery exemplifies how reusability makes frequent, cost-effective launches practical — a core part of how SpaceX sustains a large satellite fleet.
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Flexible West-Coast operations — Launching from Vandenberg gives Starlink additional orbital-inclination and scheduling flexibility, complementing the Florida launch sites and helping optimize global coverage.
For millions around the world — in rural zones, islands, maritime areas, high-latitude regions — each batch of Starlink satellites brings the possibility of reliable, high-speed internet from space.
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