SpaceX has scheduled two Starlink launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Jan. 21 and Jan. 25, 2026. The Jan. 21 flight will carry 25 satellites and the Jan. 25 flight will carry 24, both aboard Falcon 9 rockets with booster recovery on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You." These are the first Starlink missions from Vandenberg since Dec. 17 and mark California's fourth and fifth launches this month. Schedules can change—check the Ventura County Star for the latest updates.
Two Starlink Launches From Vandenberg This Week — Jan. 21 and Jan. 25, 2026
SpaceX is returning to a regular West Coast launch cadence with two planned Starlink missions from Vandenberg Space Force Base this week.
This Week's Launch Schedule (Vandenberg SFB, California)
SpaceX — Jan. 21, 2026
Mission: Deploy 25 Starlink satellites into low‑Earth orbit.
Rocket: Falcon 9, a 230‑foot, two‑stage vehicle.
Launch Window: 6:43–10:43 p.m. PT, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC‑4E), Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Booster Landing: SpaceX drone ship nicknamed "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX — Jan. 25, 2026
Mission: Deploy 24 Starlink satellites into low‑Earth orbit.
Rocket: Falcon 9, a 230‑foot, two‑stage vehicle.
Launch Window: 7:17–11:17 a.m. PT, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC‑4E), Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Booster Landing: SpaceX drone ship nicknamed "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean.
These will be the first Starlink deployments from Vandenberg since Dec. 17 and represent California’s fourth and fifth rocket launches in January. Residents across Southern California — and viewers as far away as Arizona on clear days — may be able to see the launches.
Schedule Note: Launch times and windows are subject to change; delays are common in spaceflight. For the latest status and any last‑minute updates, consult the Ventura County Star's launch coverage.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star under the headline: "Rocket launches planned this week in California. Here's the schedule."
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