On the evening of November 18, 2025 (19 November 2025 UTC), SpaceX successfully launched 29 satellites for its Starlink internet constellation from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket lifted off at 7:12 p.m. EST (00:12 UTC on 19 Nov) from Launch Complex 40.
The mission carried the payload into low-Earth orbit, and about 65 minutes after liftoff the upper stage deployed the 29 Starlink satellites as planned. Meanwhile, the first stage booster — designated B1085 — returned and landed on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, continuing SpaceX’s streak of reusable-rocket recoveries.
This flight stands out for two major reasons. First, it demonstrates SpaceX’s heavy cadence: the mission is listed as the 148th Falcon 9 launch of the year. Second, it marks a return of early-evening launches after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted restrictions on commercial launch times that had limited launches to very late hours.
In practical terms, these 29 new satellites will expand Starlink’s global coverage and capacity—meaning more users, more locations, and higher throughput. Given their mission, every batch adds incremental value: from rural connectivity to enterprise usage.
For observers on Florida’s Space Coast, the dusk launch offered a classic spectacle: a fiery rocket climbing through twilight, dome lighting up the sky, and a booster splashdown in the Atlantic. It’s a reminder that even though launches happen frequently now, each one still carries both engineering excellence and public fascination.
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