A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the Starlink 15-16 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on October 27, carrying 27 satellites. The mission used booster B1082 on its 26th flight, according to Spaceflight Now’s launch report.
The rocket departed from Space Launch Complex 4 East. Its first stage subsequently landed on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, completing another recovery of the repeatedly flown booster.
A Booster With 25 Previous Missions
Before Starlink 15-16, B1082 had flown missions including USSF-62, OneWeb 20, NROL-145, and Transporter-18. Its previous assignments also included 21 Starlink launches.
The latest mission brought that history to 26 flights. The flight count refers to the reused first-stage booster, rather than reuse of the entire rocket. After separation, the first stage returns for recovery as the upper stage continues carrying the payload toward its intended orbit.
A Mission Targeting a 70-Degree Inclination
Starlink 15-16 targeted an orbital inclination of 70 degrees. Inclination describes the angle between an orbital plane and Earth’s equator; it is separate from orbital altitude.
The launch report confirmed liftoff and first-stage recovery. Satellite deployment was still described prospectively in that account, so those confirmed events should be distinguished from confirmation that all 27 satellites had separated successfully from the upper stage.
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