New Delhi: SpaceX launched its other 26 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit on Monday evening, June 16, 2025, as part of its Starlink 15-9 mission. The launch occurred at 8:36 p.m. from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This mission represented the 200th orbital launch from SLC-4E. SpaceX used Falcon 9 rocket booster B1093 for this operation, marking the booster’s third flight. B1093 previously supported the Starlink 11-11 and Starlink 15-5 missions. Approximately eight minutes after the liftoff, the Falcon 9 booster landed successfully on the droneship positioned in the Pacific Ocean. This marked the 137th landing on this specific recovery platform and the 463rd booster landing in SpaceX history.
Of the 199 orbital launches preceding this mission from the SLC-4E, 131 were Falcon 9 rockets. The launch pad has a long operational history, dating back to May 1964, when it hosted Atlas-Agena rockets shortly after the activation of the Air Force Western Test Range. The pad later supported numerous Titan rocky launches until 2005.
With the increasing launch frequency from Vandenberg, SpaceX is undergoing the review process to acquire the neighbouring Space Launch Complex 6. The company intended to use that site for additional Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions, expanding its launch capabilities on the West Coast.
The Starlink 15-9 mission continues SpaceX’s broader plan to provide high-speed internet access through its Starlink satellite constellation. The new batch of V2 Mini Satellites will contribute to the growing global network designed to serve remote and underserved regions.
