SpaceX has reached a significant milestone in its satellite internet initiative, achieving its 300th Starlink launch. The event took place on Saturday, September 13, at 10:55 a.m. PT/1:55 p.m. ET, when a Falcon 9 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit.
The first stage booster used for this mission was making its 28th flight, setting a new record for reuse. This booster had previously supported various missions, including classified NRO missions, commercial payloads, and several Starlink launches. Following stage separation, the booster successfully landed on the droneship named “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean.
Residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may have heard sonic booms from the mission, depending on weather and atmospheric conditions at the time of launch.
This 300th Starlink launch comes at a time when the Starlink service is rapidly expanding globally. Starlink recently surpassed seven million users across 150 countries and territories. To make satellite broadband more accessible, SpaceX has reduced the price of its Standard kit in select U.S. regions to an all-time low of $89. New customers can also benefit from lower monthly fees based on their service area.
Looking ahead, SpaceX is gearing up to launch its third-generation Starlink satellites, known as V3 units, aboard the Starship rocket currently in development. These next-gen satellites are expected to offer higher throughput and expanded coverage, with launches potentially starting next year.
With the completion of its 300th mission, SpaceX is showing no signs of slowing down its Starlink expansion. As the network grows, millions more people around the world are expected to gain access to high-speed, low-latency internet in the coming years.