SpaceX is scheduled to launch another batch of Starlink satellites Sunday from Vandenberg Space Force Base, adding 24 broadband internet nodes to its low Earth orbit constellation. The Starlink 17-40 mission will lift off from pad 4E at 7:36 a.m. PDT (1436 UTC), continuing the company's relentless deployment pace.
The Starship megarocket is now considered critical to future Starlink launches, according to recent analysis. With Falcon 9 rockets each carrying roughly 24 satellites per mission, Starship's far larger payload capacity could dramatically accelerate constellation expansion once it enters regular service.
SpaceX's current launch cadence with Falcon 9 has enabled rapid constellation growth, but the company's long-term plans depend on Starship's ability to deploy larger batches in single missions. Sunday's launch represents one of many Falcon 9 flights still needed before the transition.
The Starlink network now serves millions of users globally, but faces increasing competition from Amazon's Project Kuiper and other broadband constellations. Successfully scaling Starship operations could give SpaceX a decisive advantage in orbital real estate and service coverage.
Counter argument: Some analysts question whether Starship will achieve operational reliability fast enough to meet deployment timelines, given its development delays and the complexity of orbital refueling required for high-cadence launches.