SpaceX Starlink 17-40 Mission: Booster B1088's 17th Flight Adds 24 Satellites

On June 28, 2026, SpaceX launched its Starlink Group 17-40 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, adding 24 satellites to the ever-growing megaconstellation. The flight was notable for booster B1088's 17th successful mission and landing, and it marked another step in SpaceX's record-breaking launch cadence for the year.

Mission Profile and Booster Details

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg during a launch window that opened around 2:00 p.m. UTC (7:00 a.m. PDT) . The first-stage booster, B1088, flew its 17th mission, a detail confirmed by SpaceX's pre-launch mission page and tracking data . After stage separation, the booster successfully landed on the autonomous droneship "Of Course I Still Love You," stationed in the Pacific Ocean . This was B1088's 17th successful landing out of 17 attempts .

Payload and Constellation Milestones

The mission carried 24 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit . With this launch, the total number of Starlink satellites launched since May 2019 surpassed 12,000 . By late June 2026, the active constellation was estimated at approximately 10,400 satellites, with Starlink accounting for roughly two-thirds of all active satellites in orbit .

It is important to note that claims of the constellation passing 10,700 active satellites are not fully supported by the available sources. The highest confirmed active count from authoritative trackers in late June was around 10,400–10,653 . Tracking data often lags behind newly deployed satellites as they raise their orbits .

Position in SpaceX's 2026 Launch Cadence

Starlink Group 17-40 was likely the final Starlink flight from Vandenberg in June 2026, following Starlink 17-45 (June 24) and Starlink 17-28 (June 21) from the same pad . This mission was approximately the 59th to 60th dedicated Starlink launch of 2026 . By late June, SpaceX had launched over 1,500 Starlink satellites in 2026 alone, continuing what multiple sources describe as the fastest launch pace in company history .

Key Facts at a Glance

• Launch Date: June 28, 2026
• Launch Site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
• Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5
• Booster: B1088, 17th flight
• Landing: Droneship "Of Course I Still Love You"
• Payload: 24 Starlink V2 Mini satellites
• Total Starlink Launched Since 2019: >12,000
• Approx. Active Satellites (Late June 2026): ~10,400
• Approx. Starlink Mission of 2026: 59th–60th

The Starlink 17-40 mission was a routine but significant launch for SpaceX, demonstrating the rapid reuse of boosters and the relentless expansion of the world's largest satellite constellation.