Falcon 9 Booster Completes 32nd Flight as Active Starlink Satellites Surpass 10,000
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deploying 25 Starlink satellites into orbit. The B1071 booster completed its 32nd flight during the mission.
After stage separation, the first stage successfully returned and landed on a drone ship at sea — marking the 574th successful booster recovery in the company’s history. B1071 could now become the second Falcon 9 booster to reach 33 flights.
The record currently belongs to booster B1067, which recently completed its 33rd flight and landing. This latest launch brings the number of active Starlink satellites in orbit above 10,000 for the first time. SpaceX has launched significantly more satellites in total, however, with a number already having completed their missions and deorbited.
The Starlink network’s deployment began in May 2019 and has grown rapidly. In just under seven years, SpaceX has built the world’s largest satellite constellation by a considerable margin, and the company plans to eventually expand its orbital network to approximately 42,000 satellites.
