SpaceX Falcon 9 Successfully Launches Starlink Group 17-40

SpaceX successfully launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California's Central Coast on Sunday, June 28, 2026, continuing its steady cadence of missions aimed at expanding global broadband coverage from low Earth orbit.

Liftoff took place no earlier than 9:09 a.m. Pacific time from Space Launch Complex 4E, with the launch window extending through 11:00 a.m. PT. The mission, designated Starlink Group 17-40, carried 24 satellites aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, sending them toward low Earth orbit as part of SpaceX's ever-growing Starlink mega-constellation.

Starlink is SpaceX's ambitious project to deliver space-based internet connectivity across the globe, including to remote and underserved regions that traditional ground-based infrastructure struggles to reach. Each successful launch brings additional capacity and coverage to the network, which has grown to serve customers in dozens of countries. The 24 satellites aboard this mission joined thousands of others already operating in low Earth orbit, further strengthening the constellation's ability to deliver reliable, high-speed internet service from space.

The Falcon 9 Block 5, SpaceX's workhorse launch vehicle, performed as expected throughout the mission. The rocket's first stage, which has become a symbol of SpaceX's reusable launch philosophy, completed its role in propelling the payload toward orbit. All 24 Starlink satellites were successfully delivered to low Earth orbit, marking another smooth operation for SpaceX out of Vandenberg.

For residents along California's Central Coast, launches from Vandenberg have become a familiar and often spectacular sight, with rocket trails frequently visible across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and surrounding communities depending on conditions at the time of liftoff.

With SpaceX maintaining a high launch tempo from the base, more missions are expected in the weeks ahead. Local launch enthusiasts and curious Central Coast residents can keep track of what's coming next by visiting 805.life for the latest information on upcoming Vandenberg launches.