Falcon 9 Set to Launch Starlink Group 17-45 on June 23

SpaceX is gearing up for another Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, and residents across California's Central Coast will have a front-row seat to the action. The mission, designated Starlink Group 17-45, is scheduled to lift off no earlier than Tuesday, June 23, 2026, with a launch window opening at 7:48 PM PT and extending through 9:48 PM PT.

Riding to orbit aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, this mission will carry a batch of 24 satellites destined for SpaceX's ever-expanding Starlink mega-constellation. Starlink is SpaceX's ambitious project to build a space-based internet communication system capable of delivering high-speed broadband connectivity to users around the globe, including in remote and underserved areas that traditional ground-based infrastructure struggles to reach. Each new launch adds to the growing network of satellites already circling Earth in low Earth orbit, steadily improving coverage and capacity for subscribers worldwide.

The Falcon 9 Block 5 is SpaceX's workhorse rocket, renowned for its reusability and reliability. Launching from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, the vehicle will thunder off the California coast and send its payload climbing toward low Earth orbit. As has become routine with SpaceX missions, all eyes will also be on the Falcon 9's first stage booster as it attempts a precision landing following stage separation — one of the signature moments that has made Starlink launches a spectacle worth watching time and again.

For Central Coast residents, evening launches from Vandenberg offer some of the most dramatic skywatching opportunities of any rocket program in the country. With a launch window running from 7:48 PM to 9:48 PM PT, conditions should make the rocket's ascent visible against the darkening sky. Locals across the 805 region can expect to see the Falcon 9 arc across the horizon, and if the booster return goes as planned, the distinctive double sonic boom may even rattle windows along the coast.

Whether you are a longtime launch enthusiast or catching your first SpaceX mission, this is a great opportunity to witness history in your own backyard. For tips on where to get the best possible view, Central Coast residents can visit 805.life/launches/where-to-watch to find the top local viewing spots and make the most of launch night.