SpaceX achieved another milestone in its quest for global internet connectivity with the successful launch of the Starlink 6-74 mission on Thursday night.
Lifting off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a Falcon 9 rocket carried 28 Starlink V2 mini satellites towards low-Earth orbit, further bolstering the company’s rapidly growing internet constellation.
The launch occurred precisely at 9:52 pm ET from Launch Complex 40 (LC-40).
Powered by its nine first-stage Merlin engines, the Falcon 9 ascended into the night sky, carrying its payload securely fastened within the nose fairing.
This payload consisted of a neatly stacked array of 28 Starlink satellites destined for low Earth orbit (LEO).
These satellites are integral to SpaceX’s mission to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet services globally, with a particular focus on reaching remote and underserved communities and improving connectivity in rural areas.
This mission marked the 464th launch for a Falcon 9 rocket carrying internet satellites since SpaceX began these deployments in 2010.
Approximately one hour and five minutes after liftoff, the upper stage successfully released the 28 satellites into their initial orbit. From there, each satellite will use its onboard thrusters to maneuver into its final operational position within the larger Starlink constellation.
A key element of the mission was the performance of the Falcon 9 first stage, booster B1069.
Roughly 2.5 minutes after liftoff, having completed its primary burn, the booster separated from the upper stage. This flight marked the 23rd successful launch and landing for B1069, making it one of SpaceX’s most reused boosters to date.
It was also this specific booster’s 19th mission dedicated to deploying Starlink satellites.
Following separation, B1069 executed its controlled descent back to Earth. Approximately six minutes later (around 8.5 minutes after launch), the booster performed a pinpoint landing on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Starlink 6-74 mission also contributed to a record-setting pace for SpaceX in 2025. It represented the company’s 47th Falcon 9 launch of the year and its 30th Starlink-specific mission within the same timeframe.
The spectacle of the nighttime launch attracted space enthusiasts and photographers to viewing locations such as Woodside Park in Viera, Florida.
Observers equipped with powerful lenses captured impressive images of the rocket’s fiery ascent, the separation of the stages, and even the distinct burn of the booster during its landing sequence on the distant droneship, further fueling public interest in space exploration activities along the Space Coast.
Earlier this week, SpaceX successfully launched Bandwagon-3 rideshare mission, carrying a diverse manifest of satellites, including a pioneering European reentry capsule.
