Falcon 9 Set to Launch Starlink Group 17-48 on July 10

SpaceX is gearing up for another Starlink launch from the California Central Coast, with liftoff scheduled no earlier than Friday, July 10, 2026, at 8:00 PM Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch window extends through 11:00 PM PT, giving the team a three-hour opportunity to get the mission off the ground.

Flying aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, this mission — designated Starlink Group 17-48 — will carry a batch of 24 satellites destined for low Earth orbit as part of SpaceX's ever-expanding Starlink mega-constellation. Starlink is SpaceX's ambitious project to build a space-based global internet communication system, beaming high-speed broadband connectivity to users around the world, including remote and underserved areas that traditional ground-based infrastructure has long struggled to reach. Each new launch adds more capacity and coverage to the growing network, which already serves millions of customers across dozens of countries.

The Falcon 9 Block 5 is SpaceX's workhorse rocket, renowned for its reliability and rapid reusability. Liftoff will take place from Space Launch Complex 4E, the same seaside pad that has hosted dozens of SpaceX missions over the years. As with most Starlink flights, SpaceX will attempt to recover the Falcon 9's first stage booster after separation, landing it on a drone ship stationed in the Pacific Ocean — a routine but still remarkable feat of modern rocketry.

For locals along the Central Coast, an evening launch like this one is a spectacular treat. Launching at 8:00 PM PT means skywatchers won't have to wait until the middle of the night for a chance to witness the show. Depending on atmospheric conditions and the flight trajectory, residents across the 805 region could be treated to a brilliant streak of light arcing across the sky, followed by the fiery glow of the booster's return burn as it descends back toward the ocean. The rocket's exhaust plume can sometimes spread into vivid twilight colors at altitude, creating a sight that never quite gets old no matter how many launches you've seen.

Whether you're a longtime rocket enthusiast or watching your very first launch, this is the kind of local event worth stepping outside for. Viewers across the 805 region are encouraged to find an open sightline to the northwest and look up. For the best viewing spots in the area, head to 805.life/launches/where-to-watch before heading out.