SpaceX Expands Starlink Network with 26 New Satellites Launched from California

Quick summary:

• SpaceX launched 26 new Starlink satellites on June 12, 2025, further expanding its broadband internet megaconstellation to over 7,600 active satellites in low Earth orbit.
• The launch occurred from Vandenberg space force Base,California,using a Falcon 9 rocket at 9:54 p.m. EDT (6:54 p.m. PDT or 0154 GMT on June 13).
• The Falcon 9’s first stage (serial B1081),which had been reused for the mission’s launch for the fourteenth time,successfully landed on the ocean-based droneship “Of Course I Still Love You,” stationed off southern California.
• SpaceX has conducted a total of 72 Falcon 9 missions so far in the year, with nearly three-fourths (53 launches) dedicated to supporting Starlink services.
• The Starlink network offers global internet coverage with some satellites equipped for direct-to-cell capabilities that enable texting and internet service directly via compatible smartphones.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
This latest achievement by SpaceX underscores its role as a global pioneer in reusable space technology and satellite-based internet services.For India-a rapidly advancing space power-such developments signal opportunities and potential competitive challenges. As India expands its own broadband connectivity initiatives like Bharti-backed OneWeb or ISRO’s satellite offerings under GSAT programs, collaborations or innovations in reusable rockets and high-capacity megaconstellations could be critical to achieving robust communication infrastructure nationwide. Moreover, given India’s increasing reliance on smartphones across urban and rural locations alike, advancements such as direct-to-cell satellite technology might potentially be worth exploring as an avenue to bridge connectivity gaps more efficiently than traditional fiber deployments.

Read More: Space.com Article