SpaceX Set to Launch 25 Starlink Satellites from California

As of 8:01 a.m. EST on March 13, 2026, SpaceX is scheduled to launch 25 Starlink broadband internet satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is planned for 7:33:50 a.m. PDT (10:33:50 a.m. EDT / 1433:50 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 4 East. This mission—designated Starlink 17-31—will mark the 32nd flight for Falcon 9 booster B1071, a veteran of missions including NASA’s SWOT satellite, multiple National Reconnaissance Office launches, and several SmallSat rideshare flights.

About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the first stage is expected to land on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You stationed in the Pacific Ocean. If successful, it will be the vessel’s 183rd recovery and SpaceX’s 585th booster landing overall. Satellite deployment is slated for just over an hour after launch. The mission contributes to SpaceX’s ongoing effort to expand its global broadband coverage, with thousands of Starlink satellites already in low Earth orbit.

China Resumes Launch Campaign with Dual Missions

China ended a month-long orbital launch hiatus on March 12, 2026, with two successful missions from separate spaceports. The first, a Long March 8A, lifted off at 2:48 p.m. EST from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center, carrying the 20th batch of satellites for the Guowang low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed mission success approximately two hours later. This batch likely includes nine satellites built by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, joining around 163 already in orbit as part of China’s planned 13,000-satellite megaconstellation—a direct response to systems like SpaceX’s Starlink.

Hours later, a Long March 2D rocket launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 5:33 p.m. EST, delivering the Shiyan-30 (03 and 04) technology demonstration satellites. Described officially as platforms for “testing and verifying Earth observation technologies,” these satellites may support interferometry, inter-satellite links, or formation flying. The Shiyan series has historically served as a testbed for sensors, navigation systems, and space situational awareness tools. These launches represent China’s 11th and 12th orbital attempts of 2026, with two failures so far—yet Beijing appears on track to surpass its 2025 record of 92 launches and potentially cross the 100-launch threshold for the first time.

Artemis II Readiness Review Completed Ahead of Rollout

NASA concluded its Artemis II Flight Readiness Review on March 12, 2026, and held a media briefing the same day at Kennedy Space Center to share updates on the upcoming crewed mission around the Moon. Administrator Jared Isaacman, along with senior mission leaders, confirmed continued progress toward the first human lunar flyby since Apollo 17. While an official launch date has not yet been set, the agency remains on track for a launch later this year.

One significant development is the scheduled second rollout of the fully stacked Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to Launch Complex 39B on March 19, 2026. This follows a prior rollback to address issues with the upper stage helium tanks. The rollout, expected to take up to 12 hours, is a critical step in verifying launch infrastructure and vehicle readiness. Meanwhile, NASA has also announced two upcoming U.S. spacewalks—EVA-94 and EVA-95—set for March 18 and a subsequent date, during which astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will prepare the International Space Station’s power channels for new solar arrays. Though Canada’s contribution to Artemis (notably the Canadarm3 for the Gateway station) comes into play later in the programme, Canadian engineers and scientists continue to support foundational testing and international coordination behind the scenes.

Citations

• “Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 25 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base” – https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/03/13/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-25-starlink-satellites-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-vandenberg-space-force-base/
• “China ends month-long launch hiatus with separate Guowang and Shiyan-30 satellite missions” – https://spacenews.com/china-ends-month-long-launch-hiatus-with-separate-guowang-and-shiyan-30-satellite-missions/
• “NASA to Share Artemis II Flight Readiness Review Update” – https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-share-artemis-ii-flight-readiness-review-update/