SpaceX Resumes Starlink Launches After Addressing Upper Stage Anomaly
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SpaceX successfully returned its Starlink satellite deployment campaign to full speed on Saturday, February 7, 2025, following a brief pause to investigate an issue with a previous mission. The launch marks the company’s 15th orbital flight of the year and further expands its ambitious satellite internet constellation.
SpaceX confirmed that 25 Starlink satellites, designated Group 17-33, were deployed as planned approximately one hour after liftoff. The launch occurred at 3:58 p.m. EDT (2058 GMT or 12:58 p.m. PDT) from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Booster 1088 Achieves Milestone Flight
The Falcon 9 rocket utilized for the mission, specifically Booster 1088, successfully completed its 13th flight. Following stage separation, the booster executed a controlled landing on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean, demonstrating SpaceX’s continued progress in reusable rocket technology.
Prior Launch Experienced “Off-Nominal Condition”
The resumption of launches comes just five days after a temporary stand-down prompted by an anomaly during the February 2nd mission. According to a company release, the upper stage of that flight “experienced an off-nominal condition” when it failed to re-ignite.
A senior official stated the failure was attributed to “a gas bubble in the transfer tube ahead of the planned deorbit burn.” The vehicle, however, “performed as designed to successfully passivate the stage,” ensuring a controlled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere over the Southern Indian Ocean approximately 10.5 hours later.
SpaceX promptly submitted a comprehensive report to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), detailing the likely cause of the issue and the corrective actions implemented. The FAA subsequently cleared the company to resume launches earlier this week.
Starlink Constellation Continues to Grow
The successful launch adds to the rapidly expanding Starlink megaconstellation, which now comprises more than 9,600 active satellites, as tracked by Jonathan McDowell. This growing network aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access to underserved areas globally.
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The quick resolution of the upper stage issue and the FAA’s subsequent approval underscore SpaceX’s commitment to safety and reliability as it continues to build out its ambitious space infrastructure.
