🚀 Falcon 9 | 🛰 Starlink Group 15-3
Launch date: May 10, 2025 00:19 UTC
Payload: Starlink Group 15-3
Location: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
Vehicle: Falcon 9
SpaceX conducted the Starlink Group 15-3 mission from SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 00:19 UTC on May 10, 2025, following weather and operational delays. The Falcon 9 deployed 26 Starlink v2 Mini satellites—including Direct-to-Cell variants—into a 70-degree inclined orbit. Booster B1081 made its 14th flight, landing successfully on ‘Of Course I Still Love You.’ This launch is part of SpaceX’s increased cadence from Vandenberg driven by recent FAA approvals, contributing to the growing Starlink constellation.
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SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA
Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) is part of the larger Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Originally built as Launch Complex 75-1-2 and used by the U.S. Air Force for Atlas-Agena and Titan rockets in the 1960s and 1970s, it was later refurbished by SpaceX beginning in 2011. SpaceX rebuilt the facility to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches aimed at sun-synchronous and polar orbits—trajectories best served from Vandenberg.
The first Falcon 9 launch from SLC-4E took place in September 2013. Since then, it has become SpaceX’s primary West Coast launch site, supporting both government and commercial payloads, including earth observation and reconnaissance satellites. In addition to supporting reusable launch vehicle operations, SLC-4E also hosts infrastructure for rocket landing and recovery, helping to advance SpaceX’s reusability efforts.