SpaceX is preparing to launch 27 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Falcon 9 rocket, utilizing booster B1063, is scheduled for liftoff at 4:10 p.m. PDT. This mission marks the 36th flight for this specific booster, which aims to land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas approximately 8.5 minutes after launch.
During the third quarter, SpaceX added 1.6 million customers, bringing the service to 174 global markets. According to an SEC filing, the company had over 11,100 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit. Connectivity revenue for the quarter reached $5.2 billion, representing a 22 percent increase compared to the previous quarter.
Operational costs for the Connectivity segment rose by $974 million year-over-year. CFO Bret Johnsen stated that increasing the flight rate of Starship missions is essential for future revenue growth. The company plans to deploy V3 broadband satellites in 2027, which are expected to provide 20 times the downlink capacity of current Falcon 9 payloads.
SpaceX intends to begin ramping up Starlink Mobile V2 satellites on Starship in 2027 to expand direct-to-device services. Additionally, Elon Musk announced that the next Starship launch is anticipated in November, with plans to attempt a catch of both the Ship and the Super Heavy booster, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
