Falcon 9 Starlink Group 17-22: Launch Success on 19 April 2026

What just launched?

SpaceX successfully launched the Starlink Group 17-22 mission on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket at 16:03 UTC on 19 April 2026 from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The mission added a fresh batch of Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit and was declared a success by SpaceX.

Falcon 9 is a two-stage, partially reusable orbital rocket built and operated by SpaceX. Starlink is SpaceX's broadband megaconstellation, which has grown to more than 7,000 operational satellites delivering low-latency internet across most of the globe.

Did the launch succeed?

Yes. The launch was a success. The Falcon 9 lifted off on schedule from the West Coast pad, delivered its Starlink payload to low Earth orbit, and the first stage completed its landing burn as planned. This continues SpaceX's dominant cadence of Starlink deployment flights in 2026.

Key mission facts

What was the payload?

The payload was a stack of Starlink v2 Mini satellites, the current generation of SpaceX's broadband spacecraft. West Coast launches from Vandenberg typically place Starlink satellites into higher-inclination shells that improve coverage at more northern and southern latitudes. Each Falcon 9 Starlink flight from this pad routinely carries around 20+ satellites, which raise their orbits to an operational altitude near 550 km using onboard ion thrusters.

Once checked out, these spacecraft join the operational constellation providing internet service to consumers, maritime, aviation and government customers worldwide. You can follow the freshly deployed spacecraft on our Starlink tracking page and watch the tell-tale Starlink train as the satellites drift apart in the days after deployment.

What happened to the booster?

The Falcon 9 first stage separated roughly two and a half minutes into flight and returned for a propulsive landing, the standard recovery profile for Vandenberg Starlink missions. Booster reuse is central to SpaceX's economics — individual Falcon 9 first stages have now flown more than 20 times each, and reflight has enabled the company to fly Falcon 9 dozens of times per year.

The second stage continued to orbit, coasted, and released the Starlink stack after reaching the target deployment orbit. A deorbit burn typically follows to responsibly dispose of the upper stage.

How to watch the replay

SpaceX streams its launches on X and its official channels, with webcast coverage beginning a few minutes before liftoff. For the mission timeline, orbital data and every upcoming flight, check the following:

• Full rocket launch schedule — every upcoming mission with live countdowns
• SpaceX launch hub — all Falcon 9 and Starship flights
• Vandenberg launch hub — West Coast missions from SLC-4E and beyond
• Latest launch news

Why this launch matters

Starlink is the largest satellite constellation ever built, and missions like Group 17-22 keep expanding capacity and replacing older spacecraft that naturally deorbit. SpaceX launches Starlink from both Florida and California to populate different orbital shells; Vandenberg flights specifically fill higher-inclination planes. With Falcon 9 flying at a record pace, each successful mission compounds a network that now serves millions of subscribers across more than 100 countries.

You can explore the growing constellation, plus every other active satellite, on the Cosmik live 3D solar system and satellite map. Curious about spotting these satellites yourself? Read how to track satellites for viewing tips.

Data sources

Launch timing and status data are drawn from The Space Devs Launch Library. Background on the vehicle and constellation is from Falcon 9 and Starlink.

Follow it live on Cosmik

Track the newly launched Starlink satellites in real time on Cosmik's free 3D map, and enable free launch alerts so you never miss the next Falcon 9 liftoff. Head to our launch tracker to see what's flying next.