Starlink Group 17-52

About this mission

Starlink Group 17-52 is scheduled to lift off on August 1, 2026 on a Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, carrying 24 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. Dates this far out routinely shift with weather and range availability, so treat the time as provisional until launch day.

Flying from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the California coast, the rocket headed out over the Pacific — the trajectory SpaceX uses for Starlink's higher-inclination and polar shells, which extend coverage toward far northern and southern latitudes.

Starlink satellites are released about 15 minutes after liftoff into a low ~280 km parking orbit, stacked flat like dealt cards. Each satellite then runs health checks, unfolds its single solar array and begins a weeks-long climb on its ion thruster to the operational shell around 550 km. Satellites that fail checkout stay low and re-enter within months by design — the low insertion orbit is Starlink's built-in debris safeguard.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still see the Starlink train from Starlink Group 17-52?

Not yet — the mission hasn't flown. In the first days after launch the satellites travel in a tight line and make a spectacular "train" around dawn and dusk, so check back after liftoff.

How many satellites did Starlink Group 17-52 carry?

24 Starlink satellites, riding to orbit stacked flat inside the Falcon 9 Block 5 fairing and released in one go about 15 minutes after liftoff.

Where did Starlink Group 17-52 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. West-coast launches serve Starlink's higher-inclination shells, which cover far northern and southern latitudes.