SpaceX confirmed on October 13 that 27 Starlink satellites were deployed on the Starlink 15-25 mission. The Falcon 9 lifted off from California at 5:28 p.m. Pacific time on October 12; the launch thread recorded the same liftoff at 00:28:11 UTC on October 13 (launch record). SpaceX’s post confirmed the deployment the next day.
Starlink 15-25’s payload and booster landing
The Falcon 9 launched from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base. IFM Noticias reported that the payload comprised 27 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites, released into low Earth orbit at an altitude of about 266 kilometers a little over an hour after liftoff (mission details).
IFM Noticias also reported that first-stage booster B1088 completed its 20th flight and landed on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean about eight and a half minutes after liftoff.
Musk’s reported estimate for Starship Flight 15
In an interview in Austin on October 10, Elon Musk estimated that Starship Flight 15 might take place four to six weeks later. He also described a prospective attempt to catch both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage with the launch tower’s mechanical arms, according to IFM Noticias.
For context, IFM Noticias reported that Starship Flight 14 reached orbit on September 28 and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, but neither stage was recovered.
