February 10, 2025 — SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California, carrying 23 Starlink satellites in a low-Earth orbit mission. The 6:09 p.m. PST launch could be seen throughout the Las Vegas Valley and beyond in Southern California, one more milestone in SpaceX’s potential space exploration objectives.
The Mission Details
The Falcon 9 rocket carried 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, the second-generation constellation of broadband relays SpaceX is deploying to deliver high-speed internet service to underserved areas of the planet. The mission, dubbed Starlink Group 11-10, was the 23rd flight for the booster which also flew previous missions for NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and additional Starlink flights.
The launch, initially planned for the morning of Sunday, February 9, was postponed to the following day by unknown reasons. Liftoff on Monday had already been postponed at least two hours past its new tentative launch time of 6:09 p.m. PST. Those delays notwithstanding, the mission went smoothly, with the first-stage booster landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean about eight minutes after liftoff.
A Spectacle in the Sky
The Falcon 9 rocket provided a spectacular evening sight for people in Southern California from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. SpaceX had announced that sonic booms would be heard in these regions, depending on weather conditions. SpaceX rockets can be spotted from the Las Vegas Valley, where it’s occurred multiple times in the past few years in March 2024, October 2022, and May 2024.
The Already Expanding Starlink Network
This launch is also one of dozens making up SpaceX’s broader push to build out its Starlink mega constellation, which now comprises over 7,000 satellites already in low Earth orbit. You are designed to deploy 42,000 satellites to provide a broadband service with an emphasis on underserved and remote areas around the world. The latest set of satellites will orbit some 342 miles above the Earth, close enough to provide internet service with speeds sufficient for streaming, video calls, and online gaming.
A Busy Year for SpaceX
It was SpaceX’s 18th mission of 2025 as of Feb. 10, and included 12 missions to deploy Starlink satellites. For this launch, the company claims 82 consecutive successful missions.
SpaceX’s near-weekly launches are additional displays of its dominance in the commercial space industry. This reusable Falcon 9 rocket has enabled SpaceX to significantly reduce the cost of space travel, and the rocket has become a workhorse for the company. This first-stage booster had already flown 22 missions before this launch, including a record 13 Starlink missions.
Looking Ahead
Scroll down for more videos SpaceX is showing no signs of slowing down. That’s exactly why the company has selected another Starlink boarding launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on February 11, 2025, focused solely on deploying Starlink V2 Mini satellites. With this mission, the Starlink network will grow even stronger, with ambitions to deliver high-speed Internet worldwide.
Why This Matters
This is no small feat for SpaceX; it’s a giant leap toward closing the digital divide. Starlink is bringing fast broadband internet to remote and underserved places and revolutionizing the way that people connect, work, and learn.
Conclusion
With even more glorious interstellar voyages planned, Southern California–area sky-watchers can anticipate even more dazzling rocket bouquets in the heavens to come.
For those who missed the launch, that’s OK — you’re never out of the loop with video feeds and live updates available on a site like Spaceflight Now and the official SpaceX site.
