SpaceX planning second launch of the week from Vandenberg Space Force Base is set to occur on Friday, July 18, at 8:51 p.m. PDT (11:51 p.m. EDT), carrying 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from SLC‑4E. This Falcon 9 mission—dubbed Starlink 17 3—is the second Vandenberg launch within days, following another Starlink flight on July 15.
The first-stage booster, tail number B1082, is flying its 14th mission. After launch, it’s expected to return and land on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You about eight minutes later—marking a possible 141st landing on that vessel and the 477th booster landing overall.
Why is Vandenberg a preferred site for polar missions?
SpaceX planning a second launch of the week from Vandenberg Space Force Base
Vandenberg SFB’s location enables rockets to launch southward over the Pacific Ocean and directly into polar or sun-synchronous orbits—essential for missions such as Starlink and NASA’s TRACERS.
Earlier this month, Vandenberg hosted a Starlink mission on July 15 that deployed 26 satellites, boosting Starlink’s coverage to remote regions and expanding its global megaconstellation to over 7,800 satellites.
Starlink mission specifics: what you need to know
Payload: 24 Starlink V2‑Mini broadband satellites targeted for polar orbits to enhance high-latitude connectivity.
Booster: SpaceX’s B1082, landing on Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) after 14 flights.
Constellation growth: The mission is part of a plan to launch 400+ polar satellites by end-2025, doubling service capacity for Alaska and similar regions.
Live webcast: Available via SpaceX’s X account and X TV starting ~5 minutes before liftoff.
Vandenberg SFB: expanding launch capacity
Vandenberg is undergoing significant upgrades:
SLC‑4E: Already boots Falcon 9 missions—including the July 18 and July 15 launches.
SLC‑6: Leased by SpaceX in April 2023 and currently being reconfigured (with horizontal integration and demolition of Delta IV-era infrastructure), expected to handle Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy in late 2025–2026.
This expansion will increase the West Coast’s launch cadence, potentially supporting over 100 annual missions.
Upcoming missions from Vandenberg
NASA’s TRACERS mission: Scheduled for July 22, launching twin satellites to study solar‑Earth magnetic interactions from SLC‑4E.
Future Starlink and SDA missions: Including Transporter rideshare flights and the space‑development Space Development Agency constellations scheduled through late 2025.
What does this mean for space operations and global connectivity?
1. Faster Reuse = Lower Costs
The 14th flight of B1082 highlights how reusable boosters reduce costs and increase launch frequency.
2. Polar Connectivity Expansion
Adding polar Starlink satellites improves Internet coverage in high‑latitude regions like Alaska, Finland, and polar research zones.
3. Spaceport Growth
The transformation of Vandenberg’s infrastructure, especially SLC‑6, underscores its rising role as a launch hub on par with Eastern-side sites.
How to watch the launch
Live webcast: Details on SpaceX’s X account and X TV begin ~5 minutes before liftoff (~8:46 p.m. PDT).
Weather & updates: Check Spaceflight Now for real-time coverage and potential weather holds.
Local impact: First-stage landing on droneship offshore means minimal sonic-boom disturbance locally.
SpaceX planning second launch of the week from Vandenberg Space Force Base not only exemplifies rapid turnaround operations but also marks strategic advances in polar satellite deployment and West Coast launch readiness. With historic boosters, ambitious deployment goals, and base upgrades underway, Vandenberg is transforming into a premier spaceport, propelling both regional connectivity and global exploration.
As launch technologies evolve and demand for polar coverage grows, this mission is a crucial step in the journey. Watch the launch, follow the updates, and stay tuned—because this is just the beginning of Vandenberg’s ascent in the new space era.
