On Saturday, June 28, 2025, SpaceX achieved a significant operational milestone by successfully launching two separate Falcon 9 rockets carrying batches of starlink satellites from both the East and West Coasts of the United States within a single day. This impressive doubleheader highlights the company’s accelerating pace in deploying its global internet constellation and demonstrates its robust launch capacity across multiple sites. These missions contribute to expanding the Starlink network, aiming to provide high-speed internet access, particularly in underserved and remote areas worldwide.
East Coast Mission: Starlink group 10-34 Sets New Pad Record
The day’s first launch, designated Starlink Group 10-34, lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket launched at 12:26 a.m. ET (0426 GMT). Aboard this mission were 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, adding crucial capacity to the network positioned in low Earth orbit.
This particular launch also marked a new achievement for SpaceX operations at SLC-40. The Falcon 9 lifted off just two days, eight hours, 31 minutes, and 10 seconds after the previous mission from the same pad (Starlink 10-16 on June 25). This impressive turnaround time sets a new record for SpaceX at this launch complex, surpassing the prior record set in March by nearly 30 minutes. It underscores SpaceX’s continuous efforts to streamline operations and increase launch frequency from its facilities.
Falcon 9 Booster B1092 Completes Fifth Flight
The first stage booster supporting the Starlink Group 10-34 mission was B1092. This launch marked the fifth flight for this specific booster. Booster B1092 had previously supported several important missions, including Starlink 12-13, NROL-69, CRS-32, and GPS III SV08. Following the successful ascent and separation, the booster executed a controlled return. It landed precisely on the autonomous droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, completing a successful recovery and setting it up for potential future reuse. This landing was the 115th successful touchdown for “A Shortfall of Gravitas” and the 469th overall booster landing achieved by SpaceX to date.
West Coast Mission: Starlink Group 15-7 from Vandenberg
Hours after the early morning launch in Florida, SpaceX was ready for its second mission of the day on the opposite side of the country. The Starlink Group 15-7 mission launched from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This Falcon 9 lifted off at 1:13 p.m. ET (1713 GMT). The payload for this mission consisted of 26 Starlink satellites.
Both the Florida and California missions successfully deployed their satellite payloads into low Earth orbit approximately nine minutes after liftoff. The satellites were then deployed from the rocket’s second stage about an hour later. These rapid deployments are critical for building out the Starlink constellation efficiently.
Falcon 9 Booster B1088 Achieves Eighth Landing
The first stage booster utilized for the Starlink Group 15-7 launch from Vandenberg was B1088. This mission marked the eighth flight for this veteran booster. Booster B1088 boasts a history of successful launches, having previously supported NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57, and four other Starlink missions. Like its East Coast counterpart, Booster B1088 performed a successful atmospheric re-entry and landing. It touched down on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You,” positioned in the Pacific Ocean, adding another successful recovery to SpaceX’s record.
Expanding the Starlink Network
Together, the Starlink Group 10-34 and Group 15-7 missions deployed a total of 53 new satellites into orbit (27 from Florida + 26 from California). This substantial addition continues the rapid expansion of SpaceX’s Starlink mega-constellation. According to tracking data compiled by satellite expert Jonathan McDowell, these recent launches pushed the total number of active Starlink units in orbit beyond 7,900.
The Starlink constellation is designed to provide global internet coverage, targeting areas where traditional terrestrial internet infrastructure is unreliable or non-existent. Services are already being utilized in diverse locations, such as remote communities like Itaquera in the Brazilian Amazon, highlighting the constellation’s real-world impact. SpaceX’s ability to conduct simultaneous launches from both coasts significantly accelerates the deployment timeline for the constellation, maintaining its position as a leader in the emerging satellite internet market. The company’s high launch cadence is a key competitive advantage as other players, like Amazon’s Project Kuiper, begin their own large-scale satellite deployments.
Reusability Drives Launch Cadence
A cornerstone of SpaceX’s operational model is the reusability of its Falcon 9 first stage boosters. The successful recovery and subsequent refurbishment of boosters like B1092 and B1088 enable the rapid turnaround times necessary for launching missions with increasing frequency. This not only reduces the cost per launch but also allows SpaceX to deploy satellites and other payloads at an unprecedented pace.
The droneships “A Shortfall of Gravitas” and “Of Course I Still Love You” play a vital role in this process, serving as mobile landing pads at sea for boosters returning from missions that do not carry enough fuel for a return-to-launch-site landing. The repeated successful landings and rapid re-flights of boosters are central to SpaceX’s strategy for making access to space more routine and affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the details of the two SpaceX Starlink launches on June 28, 2025?
On Saturday, June 28, 2025, SpaceX conducted two Starlink launches. The first, Starlink Group 10-34, launched 27 satellites at 12:26 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral, Florida, setting a new pad turnaround record. The second, Starlink Group 15-7, launched 26 satellites at 1:13 p.m. ET from Vandenberg, California. Both missions used Falcon 9 rockets and successfully deployed their payloads into low Earth orbit.
What new record did SpaceX set with the June 28th Starlink 10-34 launch?
The Starlink Group 10-34 launch from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral set a new pad turnaround record for SpaceX at that site. The time between the previous launch from SLC-40 (June 25th) and the June 28th launch was just two days, eight hours, 31 minutes, and 10 seconds. This broke the previous record, demonstrating SpaceX’s efficiency in preparing launch pads for rapid reuse.
How many satellites did these launches add, and what is the current size of the Starlink constellation?
The two SpaceX launches on June 28th added a total of 53 new satellites to the Starlink constellation (27 from Florida and 26 from California). Following these missions, the total number of active Starlink units in orbit, according to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, now exceeds 7,900. This rapid deployment significantly expands the network’s coverage capacity.
SpaceX’s successful doubleheader from Florida and California underscores its dominance in the satellite launch market and its commitment to building out the Starlink constellation swiftly. The record-breaking pad turnaround at Cape Canaveral further illustrates the operational efficiencies gained through reusable rocket technology. As the Starlink network continues to grow, it holds the potential to connect millions globally, bridging digital divides and facilitating new applications for low-Earth orbit satellite technology. These back-to-back missions represent another step forward in making space access more routine and realizing the vision of a globally connected world via satellite internet.
