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25 Starlinks Lift Off from Vandenberg in Latest Batch | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX launched 25 more Starlink satellites from Vandenberg SFB on March 8, 2026, pushing the active constellation toward 9,914 working spacecraft.
Latest Developments
SpaceX continued its relentless Starlink cadence on Sunday, March 8, 2026, lifting 25 satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base’s SLC-4E in California. The mission, designated Starlink 17-18, adds to a constellation that now stands at 11,463 satellites launched, 9,924 in orbit, and approximately 9,913 operationally working — a network that underpins broadband service for millions of users worldwide. Booster B1097 handled the flight, continuing SpaceX’s aggressive reuse program as the company sustains one of the highest orbital launch tempos in history. No anomalies were reported in association with this mission, making it another routine but strategically significant step in Starlink’s ongoing expansion.
Space Safety
The Starlink constellation faces a moderate conjunction threat picture with three events assessed at MODERATE risk levels, though no HIGH risk conjunctions are currently predicted. STARLINK-3191 presents the highest collision probability at 13.27% when approaching FENGYUN 1C DEB on Mar 14, 18:53 UTC, while STARLINK-5905 and STARLINK-4731 face similar moderate risk encounters with YAOGAN-30 11B and FENGYUN 1C DEB respectively in early March. Concurrently, two Starlink satellites are predicted for reentry, with decay windows of ±2,880 minutes centered on mid-March 2026.
| Risk | Starlink Sat | Other Object | Status | Min Range (km) | Rel Speed (km/s) | Max Prob | Time of Closest Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODERATE | STARLINK-3191 | FENGYUN 1C DEB | Non-operational | 0.027 | 6.172 | 13.27% | Mar 14, 11:14 UTC |
| MODERATE | STARLINK-5905 | YAOGAN-30 11B | Operational | 0.029 | 7.487 | 11.97% | Mar 09, 11:58 UTC |
| MODERATE | STARLINK-4731 | FENGYUN 1C DEB | Non-operational | 0.030 | 5.916 | 11.11% | Mar 10, 11:50 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-2569 | BISONSAT | Operational | 0.030 | 11.554 | 9.35% | Mar 09, 13:35 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-3844 | TIANQI-15 | Operational | 0.037 | 3.632 | 8.14% | Mar 12, 23:56 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-34755 | ESEO | Operational | 0.025 | 15.017 | 7.57% | Mar 09, 21:14 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-35697 | COSMOS 970 DEB | Non-operational | 0.035 | 12.178 | 6.88% | Mar 09, 17:51 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-35815 | PUCP-SAT 1 | Non-operational | 0.037 | 10.649 | 6.73% | Mar 10, 13:55 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-5262 | OBJECT D | Operational | 0.042 | 12.379 | 4.54% | Mar 11, 00:45 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-11505 | DELTA 2 R/B(1) | Non-operational | 0.068 | 4.301 | 3.89% | Mar 15, 10:53 UTC |
| Satellite | NORAD ID | Predicted Decay | Window (min) | Inclination | Lat | Lon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARLINK-30995 | 58474 | Mar 11, 02:18 UTC | 2,880 | 43° | 42° | 114.2° |
| STARLINK-1738 | 46336 | Mar 12, 15:52 UTC | 2,880 | 53° | 4.3° | 34.2° |
Detailed Coverage
SpaceX Sends 25 More Starlinks Skyward from California’s Central Coast
A Falcon 9 booster lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday, March 8, 2026, delivering 25 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit in the Starlink 17-18 mission. The launch continued SpaceX’s pattern of maintaining multiple flights per week across its East and West Coast facilities, reinforcing Vandenberg’s role as a critical hub for polar and sun-synchronous Starlink deployments that provide coverage at higher latitudes.
Once the 25 satellites complete orbital raising maneuvers and reach their operational shells, trackers monitoring the constellation will see the active working count edge closer to 9,914. Each batch strengthens coverage density and redundancy, particularly for users in Alaska, northern Europe, and other high-latitude regions where Vandenberg-launched orbital planes offer the best geometry for continuous service.
Read the full story: Space.com
Constellation Status
There have been no changes to the Starlink constellation since the last check. As of March 8, 2026, SpaceX maintains 11,463 total launches with 9,924 satellites currently in orbit, of which 9,913 are operational, while 1,539 have decayed from their orbital positions.
- Total Launched: 11463
- Total On Orbit: 9924
- Total Working: 9913
Track Starlink satellites in real-time: Track Starlink
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