SpaceX executed a Starlink satellite launch on Thursday, June 11, as the company's highly anticipated initial public offering looms. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 11:05 a.m. EDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying 24 broadband satellites to low Earth orbit. The mission, designated Starlink 17-44, used the first-stage booster B1071, marking its 15th flight.
The deployed satellites join the constellation of over 6,000 operational units, part of SpaceX's plan to blanket the globe with high-speed internet service. The Falcon 9's first stage successfully landed on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific Ocean, continuing the company's record of booster reusability. No payload other than Starlink hardware was announced for this mission.
Trading of SpaceX's stock on the NASDAQ is expected to begin June 12, according to a report from Inc. The IPO, which has been discussed for years, may be one of the largest ever, though specific offer details—including share price and number of shares—have not been disclosed by the company. The launch occurred one day before the planned listing date.
Market analysts are watching whether SpaceX's vertical integration and dominance in satellite internet can sustain the valuation demanded by a blockbuster IPO. Competing internet constellations from Amazon's Project Kuiper and OneWeb, along with regulatory scrutiny of orbital debris, pose long-term risks to Starlink's profitability. The success of the launch provides a positive signal to potential investors just before the stock debuts.