SpaceX is preparing for a significant milestone in its satellite deployment efforts. The company is set to launch its 1,900th Starlink satellite on October 22, 2024, as part of the Starlink 6-61 mission. This launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 UTC).
This mission marks SpaceX’s ninth Starlink launch in just one month, further solidifying its position in the satellite internet market. By the end of 2025, the company will have successfully deployed over 1,900 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit through a total of 77 Falcon 9 launches.
The Falcon 9 rocket, designated for this mission, is equipped with the first-stage booster 1077, which will be making its 23rd journey to space. Previous missions for this booster include high-profile launches such as NASA’s Crew-5 and the GPS III Space Vehicle 06.
According to meteorologists from the 45th Weather Squadron, the weather forecast for the launch is optimistic, with a 90 percent chance of favorable conditions at the start of the launch window. However, this probability is expected to decrease to 65 percent as time progresses. Concerns have been raised regarding cumulus and anvil clouds, which may result from isolated offshore showers in the area.
The Falcon 9 will follow a north-easterly trajectory as it departs Florida’s Space Coast. Approximately eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the booster is scheduled to land on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the South Carolina coast. A successful recovery would mark the 134th landing for this drone ship and the 497th booster landing for SpaceX overall.
As of August 27, 2025, SpaceX announced that its Starlink broadband internet service has reached a remarkable 7 million customers across approximately 150 countries, marking a significant increase of 3 million customers since September 2024. This growth trajectory illustrates the demand for satellite-based internet connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
The timeline of Starlink’s customer growth reflects its expanding reach and influence. In June 2025, the customer base increased to 6 million, and earlier in February, it reached 5 million. The service began with just 1 million customers in December 2022, showcasing an impressive upward trend.
During a recent prelaunch briefing, Cornelia Rosu, the senior director of Starlink Production, highlighted that SpaceX is currently manufacturing satellites at an accelerated rate, producing approximately 70 satellites per week. Rosu noted, “Generally satellite manufacturing is a very slow process. It takes people weeks or months to build a satellite. At SpaceX, we iterate very fast.”
Looking ahead, SpaceX plans to conduct at least 170 Falcon 9 launches throughout 2025, with the majority dedicated to expanding the Starlink constellation. The upcoming launch on October 22 will be the 108th mission of the year, further advancing SpaceX’s ambitious goals in satellite internet service and space exploration.
As the launch approaches, SpaceX continues to shape the future of global connectivity, demonstrating the growing importance of satellite technology in bridging communication gaps across the world.
