SpaceX is poised to reach a significant milestone in its launch history, with the upcoming launch of its 600th Falcon 9 rocket. Scheduled for Saturday evening, , the mission, designated Starlink 17-13, will deploy 24 next-generation V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This launch follows closely on the heels of another SpaceX success: the arrival of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, Freedom, at the International Space Station earlier the same day, marking the company’s 20th human spaceflight mission.
The launch window for Starlink 17-13 opens at (8:59:59 p.m. EST / 0159:59 UTC). The Falcon 9 will follow a southerly trajectory after liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East. Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage starting approximately 30 minutes before launch.
What distinguishes this mission isn’t just the milestone number, but the reusability demonstrated by the Falcon 9 booster, tail number B1081. This will be B1081’s 22nd flight, a testament to SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to reduce the cost of space access through reusable rocket technology. The booster has already supported four NASA missions – Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, and TRACERS – highlighting its versatility and reliability.
Following stage separation, B1081 is targeted to land on the autonomous drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You,” positioned in the Pacific Ocean roughly eight minutes after launch. If successful, this will be the 178th landing on this particular drone ship and the 571st overall booster landing for SpaceX. These numbers underscore the company’s commitment to, and proficiency in, recovering and reusing its expensive rocket hardware.
The Starlink V2 Mini satellites being deployed are the latest iteration in SpaceX’s ambitious project to create a global, low-latency broadband internet network. These satellites represent an evolution in the Starlink constellation, designed to offer improved performance and capacity compared to earlier versions. The V2 Mini satellites are smaller and more capable than their predecessors, allowing for a denser and more efficient network.
SpaceX’s rapid launch cadence and successful booster recovery are key factors in its ability to deploy and maintain the Starlink constellation. The Falcon 9 has become the workhorse of SpaceX’s mission portfolio, supporting not only Starlink deployments but also commercial and governmental satellite launches, as well as crewed missions to the ISS. The ability to reuse boosters significantly lowers the cost per launch, making space access more affordable and enabling projects like Starlink to scale rapidly.
The simultaneous execution of these two missions – the Starlink launch and the ISS crew arrival – highlights SpaceX’s expanding role in both commercial and government space activities. The Crew Dragon’s arrival at the ISS, carrying three NASA astronauts and one Roscosmos cosmonaut, occurred approximately 34 hours after launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission further solidifies SpaceX’s position as a critical partner in supporting crewed orbital operations.
The Falcon 9’s journey to 600 launches represents a significant achievement in the evolution of space technology. Early rockets were largely expendable, making each launch a costly undertaking. SpaceX’s focus on reusability has fundamentally altered the economics of spaceflight, paving the way for more frequent and ambitious missions. The company’s continued innovation in areas like rapid iteration, vertical integration, and automated launch processes has allowed it to achieve this remarkable milestone.
The success of the Starlink program, enabled by the Falcon 9’s reliability and reusability, has the potential to bridge the digital divide, providing high-speed internet access to underserved communities around the world. While challenges remain, including regulatory hurdles and competition from other satellite internet providers, SpaceX’s continued investment in its Starlink constellation suggests a long-term commitment to expanding global connectivity.
