SpaceX kept its launch cadence rolling early Wednesday morning, sending another batch of Starlink satellites skyward from California. Falcon 9 booster B1081 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 02:35 UTC on May 6, 2026, carrying 24 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into low Earth orbit.
This was the 24th flight for booster B1081, a milestone that underscores just how routine high-frequency reuse has become for SpaceX. Following stage separation, B1081 touched down on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY), stationed in the Pacific Ocean — another clean recovery to add to the booster's growing tally.
The V2 Mini Optimized satellites are SpaceX's current workhorse payload for expanding Starlink's broadband capacity. Deployed into low Earth orbit, they slot into the growing constellation that now serves millions of users globally — including an expanding base of Tesla owners who rely on Starlink for connectivity in remote areas. For more on SpaceX's launch program, see our SpaceX coverage.
Sources & reporting notes
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- @NASASpaceflight on X (2026-05-06T04:00:20.000Z) — Direct source
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