The U.S. Space Force has cleared a SpaceX Falcon 9 to launch the Starlink 17-18 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg early Saturday, March 7, 2026, during a window from 2:58 a.m. to 6:58 a.m. PT.
SpaceX says the mission will carry 25 Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit. The Falcon 9 first stage, flying its seventh mission after previously launching Sentinel-6B, Twilight, and four Starlink flights, is slated to land on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean following stage separation.
A live webcast will begin about five minutes before liftoff at https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-25 and on X @SpaceX; the stream will also be available on the X TV app.
Residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms associated with the launch, though what people experience will depend on weather and other conditions, officials said.