SpaceX Launches Starlink 17-42 from Vandenberg
Summary: SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 19 (PDT), with booster B1103 completing its 197th landing on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" — the 612th booster landing to date for SpaceX.
Mission Overview
The Starlink 17-42 mission lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 7:46 p.m. PDT on May 19, flying on a south-southwesterly trajectory. The rocket delivered 24 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit after stage separation.
Booster B1103 — among SpaceX's most frequently reused first stages — successfully landed on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This marked the 197th landing on this vessel and the 612th overall booster landing in SpaceX history.
Launch Data
| Item | Data |
|---|---|
| Mission | Starlink 17-42 |
| Payload | 24 Starlink satellites |
| Launch Time | PDT May 19, 2026 19:46 (UTC May 20, 02:46) |
| Launch Site | SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base |
| Booster | B1103 |
| Recovery | Drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" |
| Fairing | Recovered by SpaceX's fairing recovery vessel |
Mission Significance
Starlink 17-42 represents SpaceX's continued high-frequency deployment cadence from Vandenberg, maintaining the Starlink megaconstellation expansion across multiple orbital shells. The dual-launch-site strategy — with concurrent operations from both coasts — allows SpaceX to sustain its rapid launch tempo.