Falcon 9 SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on sunset Starlink flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base March 19, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith The mission came as SpaceX is preparing to launch a Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station later this week. Liftoff of the Starlink 7-16 mission happened at 7:28 p.m. PT (10:28 p.m. ET, 0228 UTC).