📍 Cape Canaveral, Florida – April 5, 2025, 11:07 p.m. ET
SpaceX continues its orbital streak with the successful launch of 28 Starlink satellites from Florida’s iconic Space Coast. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking another milestone in SpaceX’s ongoing Starlink deployment campaign.
What makes this mission stand out? The first-stage booster used in the launch completed its 19th flight, a remarkable feat of reusability. This particular booster has previously supported high-profile missions including Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER-B, USSF-124, multiple Bluebird launches, and now a total of 15 Starlink deliveries. After launch, the booster nailed yet another landing, touching down on the autonomous drone ship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The upper stage of the Falcon 9 deployed the Starlink payload into low Earth orbit (LEO) about an hour after liftoff, as confirmed by SpaceX via X (formerly Twitter). This mission marks SpaceX’s 39th Falcon 9 launch of 2025, with nearly two-thirds of those dedicated to expanding the Starlink megaconstellation.
According to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, over 7,100 Starlink satellites are currently active, with more joining the constellation every week—solidifying Starlink as the largest satellite network in human history.
As SpaceX pushes toward global connectivity and deepens its orbital infrastructure, each mission underscores the company’s unprecedented pace and innovation in spaceflight.
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