Weekend Falcon 9 Launch Scheduled From California as SpaceX Continues Starlink Rollout

Continuing its steady rollout of Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit, SpaceX is preparing another Falcon 9 launch from California this weekend. Liftoff is scheduled from Vandenberg Space Force Base on December 7, 2025, at 8:13 a.m. PT.

The Falcon 9 will carry 28 Starlink satellites using a first-stage booster with an extensive flight history. SpaceX said the booster has supported missions such as NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57, and multiple Starlink deployments. This weekend’s launch will be its 12th mission.

The first booster after the separation will land on the droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

The mission live stream will begin five minutes before liftoff on the SpaceX website. Additionally, viewers can watch it on SpaceX’s official X account and on the X TV app.

Landing Plan

According to SpaceX, the launch will follow a typical sequence of mission events. After liftoff, the Falcon 9 passes through Max Q, the point of maximum mechanical stress on the rocket. This is followed by the main engine cutoff and the separation of the first and second stages. 

The second-stage engine will ignite to send the satellites into orbit. Meanwhile, the first stage will perform an entry burn followed by a landing burn. The second stage will continue its programmed maneuvers until the satellites are released into low-Earth orbit.

Residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the mission, depending on weather conditions and the rocket’s trajectory. SpaceX noted that such sounds are normal during certain phases of a booster’s return.  

More Launches Lined Up

In addition to the December 7 launch, SpaceX launched 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit on December 1, according to Edhat. This journey was the first stage booster 20th operated earlier on Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, EarthCARE, NROL-186, Transporter-13, TRACERS, NROL-48, and 10 Starlink missions.

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket on December 4, carrying 28 Starlink satellites, Edhat reported on December 3.

Starlink notes that its service differs from traditional satellite internet, which typically depends on a single geostationary satellite orbiting about 35,786 km above Earth.

Instead, Starlink uses a constellation of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit at roughly 550 km, reducing latency to around 25 milliseconds and improving reliability. The network now includes more than 6,750 satellites and serves millions of users worldwide.

Starlink builds and operates its satellites in Redmond, Washington, while customer kits are manufactured in Bastrop, Texas. Together, they provide high-speed, low-latency internet to users around the world.