SpaceX has moved a planned Starlink satellite launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to Wednesday, October 21, after scrubbing the original Tuesday attempt due to a technical issue. The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off during a window opening at 2:59 p.m. PDT (5:59 p.m. EDT / 2159 UTC), targeting a southeasterly trajectory. Live coverage will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff.

The mission will use Falcon 9 booster B1063, which is set to complete its 36th flight. If successful, the booster will attempt a landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas about 8.5 minutes after launch. This would mark the 229th landing for the droneship and the 673rd overall Falcon booster landing.

During a third-quarter earnings call on October 20, SpaceX COO and President Gwynne Shotwell reported the company added 1.6 million Starlink customers over the prior three months, bringing total global service to 174 markets. She noted the figure excludes enterprise subscribers and aviation customers, emphasizing Starlink's role in connecting schools, teachers, and emergency response efforts worldwide. The company also confirmed 11,100 Starlink satellites are currently in low Earth orbit, including 26 Version 3 satellites launched during Starship Flight 14.

SpaceX's SEC filing revealed $5.2 billion in connectivity revenue for the quarter, a 22 percent increase from the previous period. Costs rose by $974 million year-over-year, attributed to satellite constellation expansion, Starlink Kit deliveries, and marketing initiatives. Shotwell stated Starship's capacity will enable new markets, including connections for vehicles, robots, and artificial intelligence systems, which she described as increasing communication demands by orders of magnitude rather than percentages.

Bret Johnsen, SpaceX CFO, said accelerating Starship launch frequency is critical for Starlink's growth. He outlined plans to deploy Starlink V3 broadband satellites in greater volumes through 2027, with each Starship launch targeting over 20 times the downlink capacity of current Falcon 9 missions. The company also aims to expand direct-to-device capabilities and become a major U.S. mobile carrier using enhanced wireless spectrum.

Elon Musk indicated the next Starship launch is expected in November, with plans to attempt catching both the Super Heavy booster and the spacecraft. SpaceX is currently seeking Federal Aviation Administration approval for this objective.