SpaceX launched a new group of 14 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) on May 27 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking the first of two planned launches for the day. The Falcon 9 rocket successfully carried out the mission, which was designated as Starlink 17-1, and landed its booster on SpaceX’s Of Course I Still Love You drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.
This launch is part of a busy day for SpaceX, which will also include the ninth flight test of its Starship megarocket. The company has been continuously launching satellites into orbit since 2015, with over 7,000 operational satellites currently in service. Today’s launch marks SpaceX’s 63rd Falcon 9 mission of 2025 and 63rd liftoff so far this year.
The booster, designated B1082, was successfully recovered after flight for refurbishment, marking the 13th successful recovery for this particular rocket stage. The Starlink stack is expected to be released from the Falcon 9 upper stage’s payload adapter about an hour into flight, with the satellites moving into individualized orbits within the Starlink megaconstellation over the next several days.
SpaceX’s Starlink network provides coverage to nearly all of the planet, offering high-speed internet connections to users who can point their receivers toward the sky. The company is set to launch another mission later today, with a livestream available on various platforms for fans to watch.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-starlink-17-1-b1082-vsfb-ocisly