SpaceX Launches 25 More Starlink Satellites From Vandenberg; Booster 1097 Completes Seventh Flight

Hours after clocks moved forward for Daylight Savings Time, SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites on Sunday, March 8. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 7:00 a.m. EDT (11:00 GMT; 4:00 a.m. PDT).

Roughly an hour after liftoff, SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of all 25 broadband internet-relay satellites — designated Group 17-18 — into low Earth orbit. According to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, the launch brought the active Starlink constellation to 9,915 satellites.

A time lapse photograph captures the streak of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as it launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, March 8, 2026. | Credit: SpaceX

The vehicle's first stage, Booster 1097, completed its seventh flight and returned to land aboard the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You," which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean. Booster 1097's previous missions include Sentinel-6B, the Twilight mission, and four earlier Starlink flights.

Mission Highlights

• Payload: 25 Starlink satellites (Group 17-18)
• Launch Site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
• Launch Time: 7:00 a.m. EDT (11:00 GMT; 4:00 a.m. PDT)
• Booster: 1097 — Seventh Flight, Recovered On Droneship "Of Course I Still Love You"
• Company Milestone: SpaceX's 29th mission of the year and 639th flight overall

SpaceX continues to roll out regular Starlink launches to expand global broadband coverage. The successful recovery of the first stage highlights the company's emphasis on reusability to reduce costs and increase launch cadence.