SpaceX Launches 21 Starlink Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket from Vandenberg Spaceport – SpaceFlight Now

A batch of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, including the first six to feature direct-cell communications capabilities. The batch was launched on Starlink Mission 7-9, which launched from Vandenberg Spaceport on January 2, 2024. Photo: SpaceX

Update 6:23 a.m. ET: SpaceX has confirmed the successful deployment of 21 Starlink satellites.

Hours after a successful launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, SpaceX completed the second Falcon 9 flight, this time from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The Starlink 9-4 mission launched from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at 2:22 a.m. PDT (5:22 a.m. EST, 0922 UTC).

The Falcon 9 first-stage booster supporting this mission, which carries tail number B1071 in the SpaceX fleet, launched for the 17th time. It has previously supported three National Security payloads, two Transporter rideshare missions, and nine Starlink missions.

Just over eight minutes after liftoff, B1071 touched down on SpaceX’s “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship. It was OCISLY’s 97th booster landing and its 332nd booster landing to date.

Of the 21 Starlink satellites launched on this mission, 13 had direct cell capability, bringing the total number of Starlink satellites launched into orbit to 129.