Falcon 9’s Epic Milestone – 28 Starlink Satellites & the 500th Orbital Booster Recovery

Liftoff at Dawn from Florida

On September 5, 2025, a Falcon 9 rocket launched 28 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The liftoff occurred at 8:32 a.m. EDT (12:32 UTC), and the mission—Starlink Group 10-57—took off on a north-easterly trajectory over Florida’s scenic Space Coast.

A Landmark in Rocket Reusability

Nearly 8.5 minutes after launch, the rocket’s first stage, booster B1069, made a precise landing on the drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" off the coast of South Carolina. This wasn't just another successful landing—it marked SpaceX’s 500th retrieval of an orbital-class booster, a monumental milestone in reusable spaceflight.

This very booster, B1069, has become quite the workhorse, having logged 27 flights—including missions for CRS-24, Eutelsat’s Hotbird 13F, various OneWeb and SES satellites, and 22 previous Starlink deployments.

Expanding the Starlink Constellation

The 28 satellites successfully deployed from the Falcon 9’s second stage approximately 1 hour and 4 minutes after liftoff, further bolstering the Starlink network. As of this mission, the constellation includes more than 8,370 active satellites, demonstrating SpaceX’s relentless push to expand global broadband access.

This launch underscores two key themes:

SpaceX’s Reusability Leadership. Completing 500 booster recoveries showcases their unmatched expertise in reusable rocketry.

Starlink’s Rapid Growth. Each mission adds more satellites to the network, bringing broader, faster internet access to underserved regions.

This launch wasn't just a mission—it was a testament to how far spaceflight has evolved. Reaching 500 booster recoveries is nothing short of historic, and pairing that feat with another batch of Starlink satellites highlights SpaceX’s dual focus on efficiency and expansion.

From weather challenges at the launch site to a textbook drone ship landing, everything came together seamlessly—for the benefit of billions relying on satellite internet and for the future of reusable space travel.