SpaceX Launches Starlink Satellites from Two Locations in Consecutive Missions

What Happened

SpaceX conducted two separate launches of Starlink satellites on Tuesday. One mission launched 24 satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, lifting off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at 9:46 p.m. PDT. The second launch, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, sent 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.

Key Facts

• SpaceX launched 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on November 8, 2024, at 9:46 p.m. PDT.
• The Vandenberg launch used a Falcon 9 rocket, identified as booster B1103, for its fifth flight.
• The first stage booster from the Vandenberg launch was scheduled to land on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean.
• SpaceX also launched 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday.
• This Florida launch used a Falcon 9 rocket, with its first-stage booster making its 18th flight.
• The booster from the Cape Canaveral launch landed on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" in the Atlantic Ocean.

Background

The mission from Vandenberg, designated Starlink 17-49, marked SpaceX's 51st flight from the West Coast this year. The Falcon 9 booster B1103 had previously supported several other missions, including launches for SDA-T1TL-E, NROL-179, and previous Starlink deployments. The Florida launch was initially slated for Monday but was postponed to Tuesday morning without a stated reason.