SpaceX Successfully Launches 28 Starlink Satellites from Vandenberg

SpaceX successfully launched 28 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on December 4, 2025, at 12:42 p.m. PST. This mission, known as Starlink 11-25, marked the fourth Starlink launch in December and the 114th Starlink launch overall for the year.

The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage, designated B1097, completed its mission by landing on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, achieving SpaceX's 544th booster landing.

The upper stage of the rocket was expected to deploy the satellites into low Earth orbit approximately one hour post-launch. With this latest deployment, SpaceX has launched over 10,000 Starlink satellites since the program's inception, contributing to a megaconstellation that is the largest ever assembled.

This launch is part of SpaceX's broader effort to enhance global internet coverage and connectivity, with plans for additional Starlink missions scheduled later in December. According to Spaceflight Now, this launch also coincides with preparations for the NROL-77 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, set to launch from Cape Canaveral on December 9, 2025.