SpaceX Schedules Next Starlink Mission Following Recent Success

SpaceX has announced the deployment of its next Starlink launch, set to follow closely on the heels of their recent successful mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. With high reliability and rapid turnaround becoming hallmarks of its Starlink rollout strategy, SpaceX continues to expand its satellite internet constellation with increasingly frequent launches.

The upcoming mission, designated Starlink Group 17-12, is scheduled to lift off from SLC-4E at Vandenberg SFB, California, using a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. The launch is timed for 17 September 2025 at approximately 15:43 UTC, carrying 24 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit.

For this mission, the first‐stage booster is B1088, marking its tenth flight. Following stage separation, the booster is scheduled to attempt recovery on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

This mission comes after the recent successful delivery of 24 Starlink satellites in the mission immediately preceding it. SpaceX continues to push its Falcon 9 reusability envelope, both in booster landings and in rapid launch cadence. Observers note that the cadence of Starlink launches reflects growing maturity of SpaceX’s operations, particularly as it prepares for future iterations of the Starlink constellation and the upcoming Starlink Version 3 satellites.

Other Starlink missions are also in the pipeline. Following Starlink Group 17-12, launches such as Group 10-61 and Group 10-27 are currently scheduled from Cape Canaveral, with windows opening in the coming days. These missions will each carry batches of V2 Mini satellites as SpaceX further densifies its network.

As always, launch timings are subject to factors such as weather, range availability, and technical readiness. SpaceX typically provides live coverage leading up to liftoff, allowing enthusiasts and stakeholders to follow the countdown in real-time.