Overview
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 17-38
Go for LaunchSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
August 08, 2026 — 14:00 UTC
Image credit: SpaceX
Launch Provider
SpaceX
- Country
- United States of America
- Founded
- 2002
- Leadership
- CEO: Elon Musk
- Launch Record
- 694 success, 15 failed
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.
Mission
Starlink Group 17-38
- Type
- Communications
- Target Orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
Launch Vehicle
Falcon 9 Block 5
- Height
- 70.0 m
- Diameter
- 3.65 m
- Liftoff Mass
- 549.0 t
- Liftoff Thrust
- 7607.0 kN
- Mass to LEO
- 22800.0 kg
- Mass to GTO
- 8300.0 kg
- Reusable
- Yes
- Maiden Flight
- 2018-05-11
- Launch Success
- 612 / 614
- Consecutive Success
- 315
Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.
Booster / First Stage
Core — B1093
- Serial
- B1093
- Status
- active
- Flight Proven
- Yes
- Flights
- 15 (this is #16)
- Landing Attempt
- Yes
- Landing Success
- Unknown
- Landing Site
- Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY)
Launch Site
Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) is a launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, U.S. The pad was previously used by Atlas and Titan rockets between 1963 and 2005. The pad was built for use by Atlas-Agena rockets, but was later rebuilt to handle Titan rockets.
Countdown Sequence
| T-00:38:00 | Launch director verifies go for propellant load |
| T-00:35:00 | Start of propelland loading |
| T-00:35:00 | Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage |
| T-00:16:00 | Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage |
| T-00:07:00 | Start of engine chilling |
| T-00:01:00 | Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels |
| T-00:01:00 | The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks |
| T-00:00:45 | Launch director verifies go for launch |
| T-00:00:03 | Start of the engine ignition sequence |
| T+00:00:00 | First upwards movement of the rocket |
| T+00:01:08 | Maximum dynamic pressure |
| T+00:02:25 | Cut-off of the main engine |
| T+00:02:29 | Separation of the second stage from the first |
| T+00:02:36 | First start of the second engine |
| T+00:02:57 | Separation of the payload fairing |
| T+00:05:59 | Start of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+00:06:47 | End of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+00:07:56 | Start of the first stage landing burn |
| T+00:08:19 | Landing of the first stage |
| T+00:08:40 | First cut-off of the second engine |
| T+00:52:24 | Second start of the second engine |
| T+00:52:25 | Second cut-off of the second engine |
| T+01:01:16 | Deployment of the Starlink stack from the rocket |
Latest Updates
Now targeting Aug 08 at 14:00 UTC
July 29, 2026 — 15:18 UTC
Now targeting Aug 07 at 14:00 UTC
July 27, 2026 — 19:30 UTC
Added launch.
July 27, 2026 — 16:04 UTC