SpaceX restores service and launches 28 new Starlink satellites
- SpaceX launched 28 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Florida on July 26, 2025, following a recent service outage.
- The launch utilized a Falcon 9 rocket, marking the 91st flight for the year and the 22nd for the first-stage booster.
- SpaceX remains committed to improving its network reliability after the outage affecting over 6 million Starlink users worldwide.
On July 26, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched 28 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch took place at 5:01 a.m. EDT, marking the 91st Falcon 9 flight of the year. The Falcon 9 rocket's first-stage booster was reused for the 22nd time, demonstrating the company's commitment to reusability and cost efficiency in spaceflight. The launch followed a recent service outage that affected Starlink users, prompting a swift response from SpaceX to rectify the issue. Just days before the launch, on July 24, Starlink users experienced an unusual internet service outage that lasted for approximately four hours. The disruption began at 4 p.m. EDT, andSpaceX was able to partially restore service within 2.5 hours. Full service was reestablished 1.5 hours later. Michael Nicholls, vice president of Starlink Engineering at SpaceX, confirmed that the outage was caused by the failure of key internal software services responsible for operating the core network. He assured users that the company is committed to resolving these issues and ensuring network reliability. Following the launch, the Falcon 9 booster landed successfully on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the 119th touchdown on the droneship and added to the total of 480 booster landings conducted by SpaceX to date. Currently, there are over 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, and the satellite internet service has attracted over 6 million customers worldwide since its launch in 2021, with about 2 million subscribers located in the United States. Looking ahead, SpaceX has plans for additional launches, with another 24 Starlink satellites scheduled for deployment on the upcoming evening from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California. The continued expansion of the Starlink constellation showcases SpaceX’s efforts to broaden access to high-speed internet, particularly in underserved regions, despite recent technological setbacks.