SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites on 90th Falcon 9 Flight of the Year

SpaceX launched 24 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission marked the 90th Falcon 9 flight of the year and the 70th dedicated to building out the Starlink megaconstellation, which now counts nearly 10,900 spacecraft.

Mission Details and Booster Reuse Milestones at Vandenberg

EDT (1705 GMT; 10:05 a.m. local time) from the foggy California base. The 230-foot, two-stage reusable rocket carried 24 broadband spacecraft toward low Earth orbit, capable of carrying more than 50,000 pounds of cargo to low-Earth orbit. The launch window for the mission ran from 7 to 11 a.m. PT, according to Space.

Approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the rocket’s first stage returned to Earth as planned. It touched down on the SpaceX droneship Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The booster used for the mission, designated B1063, marked its 34th flight. That performance brings the booster just two missions shy of the Falcon 9 reuse record, which was set the previous month during a separate Starlink flight.

Constellation Expansion and Upcoming August Schedule

The deployment of the 24 broadband spacecraft into low Earth orbit was expected to take place about 61 minutes after liftoff, assuming the mission went according to plan. These satellites add to a massive orbital network that totals nearly 10,900 spacecraft at last count.

SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites on 90th Falcon 9 Flight of the Year — Photo: Ventura County Star

The commercial spaceflight company maintains a heavy operational pace at the California base, helping set a pace for rocket launches in the state. Californians and potentially Arizonans watching the operations should keep in mind that lots can change between now and when each rocket is expected to lift off, as delays in spaceflight are common, and visitors can check VC Star for the latest mission updates. Plans for the first week of August include at least two rocket launches. Following the August 4 flight, an additional mission carrying another batch of 24 Starlink internet satellites is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, with a launch window from 7 to 11 a.m. PT utilizing the same Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base and the recovery droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.

Public Earnings Webcast and Corporate Transition

Alongside the launch cadence, corporate operations reached a significant milestone. Later on August 4, at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT), the company scheduled a public webcast to discuss its first-ever public earnings report, covering the second quarter of 2026. Listeners could access the live broadcast via the company’s X account. The shift follows Elon Musk taking the private company public in mid-June of 2026, marking the largest initial public offering in history after operating privately since its founding in 2002.