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SpaceX launches Starlink Group 17-3 smallsats from California

On Friday, July 18 at 8:52 p.m. PT, it was noted that this was Falcon 9’s 88th launch of 2025 including Starlink’s Group 17-3 group of 24 Starlink smallsats to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The launch was Falcon 9’s 516th completed mission. Photos captured by Satnews.

This mission will deploy a batch of satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink constellation to provide space-based internet service. The launch was the was SpaceX’s 88th Falcon 9 launch of 2025 and 516th completed mission.

With Friday’s group (17-3), the Starlink network now includes over 7,965 active units out of the more than 9,200 satellites launched since 2019.

This was the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which has now launched four Starlink missions, which launched USSF-62, OneWeb Launch 20, NROL-145, and now 11 Starlink missions.

SpaceX to launch Starlink Group 17-3 smallsats on Friday from California

Access to the internet has become essential for education, but students and teachers in rural areas, often have very limited connectivity. Starlink has brought high-speed connectivity to thousands of students, opening up a world of possibility for the students in these communities.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch Starlink Group 17-3 smallsats from SLC-4E at Vandenberg SFB in California on on Friday, July 18th, at 7:08 – 11:51 PM PDT. This mission will deploy a batch of satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink constellation to provide space-based internet service.

The forecast calls for a temperature of 60°F, clear skies, 4% cloud cover and a wind speed of 8mph.

Tthe booster is expected to land on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You”A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation.