Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg

A file photo of a stack of Starlink satellites prior to deployment from a Falcon 9 upper stage. Image: SpaceX

SpaceX is preparing to launch its latest Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base early Wednesday morning.

The Starlink 15-22 mission will add another 27 broadband internet satellites to the company’s low Earth orbit megaconstellation. SpaceX has flown more than 2,000 of its Starlink satellites to orbit so far this year.

Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East is scheduled for 2:34 a.m. PDT (5:34 a.m. EDT / 0934 UTC). The rocket will fly on a south-easterly trajectory upon leaving the pad.

Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about 30 minutes prior to liftoff.

SpaceX will launch the Starlink 15-22 mission using the Falcon 9 first stage booster with the tail number B1082. This will be its 24th flight after previously flying the NROL-145, USSF-62, and OneWeb Launch 20 missions as well as 20 batches of Starlink satellites.

Nearly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1082 will target a landing on the droneship, Of Course I Still Love You, positioned in the Pacific Ocean. If successful, this will be the 221st landing on this vessel and the 655th Falcon booster landing to date.

The launch comes a day after SpaceX launched the Starlink 10-49 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Following that flight, SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev said that it was the last planned Starlink launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida as they begin to pivot to Starship orbital launches.

“Super proud of this incredible team. You’ve made Falcon 9 the most reliable launch vehicle in history. You also helped build the largest low-Earth orbit satellite constellation providing connectivity to millions around the world, and you’ve set the foundation for what’s next,” Dontchev wrote on social media.

“In the last seven years, Falcon has flown ~260 Starlink missions from the Cape… can’t wait until we launch that and many more with Starship!”