SpaceX Launches 27 Starlink Satellites, Achieves 550th Booster Landing

SpaceX successfully launched 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites as part of its Starlink 15-12 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California on December 14, 2025. Liftoff occurred at 12:49 a.m. EST, following a south-easterly trajectory.

This mission marked a significant achievement for SpaceX as it also celebrated its 550th successful booster landing. The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage, tail number 1093, landed on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific Ocean after completing its ninth trip to space.

With this launch, the Starlink constellation now has over 9,300 active satellites out of more than 10,000 launched since 2019, providing global broadband internet coverage. This event highlights SpaceX's ongoing expansion of its satellite internet service and its advancements in reusable rocket technology, having completed 162 Falcon 9 flights in 2025 and 580 overall since the program's inception.