Falcon 9 Rockets 28 Starlink Satellites into Orbit in Dawn Launch

Cape Canaveral, Florida - Sunday, August 31, 2025

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off at 7:49 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (11:49 UTC) Sunday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 28 Starlink V2 Mini internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. Designated Starlink 10-14, this mission marks the company’s 77th Starlink launch of the year and its 1,900th Starlink V2 Mini satellite deployed in 2025.

The two-stage Falcon 9 booster, B1077, flew for the 23rd time, having previously supported Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28 and 18 prior Starlink missions. Moments after stage separation, the first stage successfully landed on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Weather conditions were 90 percent favorable, with only scattered cumulus and anvil clouds reported along Florida’s Space Coast. Local observers and residents up the East Coast were treated to the signature “jellyfish” effect as the rising sun illuminated the rocket’s exhaust plume minutes after liftoff.

With this launch, SpaceX continues to expand its global internet constellation, which now exceeds 8,100 active satellites providing connectivity across more than 130 countries. The rapid cadence underscores the company’s commitment to reusability and operational efficiency.

Mission Profile

Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5, Booster B1077 (23rd flight)
Payload: 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites (1,900th of its kind)
Liftoff: 7:49 a.m. EDT (11:49 UTC)
Landing: “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, Atlantic Ocean
Orbit: Low-Earth (LEO)

This successful dawn launch reaffirms SpaceX’s record pace of missions and advances its vision for ubiquitous broadband coverage from space.