VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. — SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday, marking the company’s return to flight after a brief hiatus due to a previous mission anomaly. The latest mission, designated Starlink 17-33, saw the deployment of 25 new satellites into the expanding Starlink constellation, which now boasts over 9,600 satellites in low Earth orbit.

The Falcon 9 lifted off from Launch Complex 4E at 12:58 p.m. PST (3:58 p.m. EST) on February 7, 2026. The rocket ascended on a south-southwest trajectory, demonstrating a smooth return to operational capacity for SpaceX.

This particular launch utilized the Falcon 9 first stage booster designated B1088, which has now completed its 13th flight. Among its previous missions were key deployments for NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office. Approximately 8.5 minutes after launch, B1088 successfully landed on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific Ocean. This marked the 176th landing for this specific vessel and the 568th overall for SpaceX.

The return to flight for Falcon 9 follows an active investigation into an anomaly reported during the Starlink 17-32 mission, which launched on February 2. During that mission, an in-flight issue was detected concerning the second stage of the rocket, leading to a halt in operations until a thorough inspection could be conducted.

SpaceX revealed that the anomaly was tied to a failed ignition during the deorbit burn, attributed to a gas bubble in the rocket’s transfer tube. They confirmed that all 25 satellites from that mission were still deployed successfully, minimizing the incident’s impact.

Following a review, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concluded the investigation into the mishap and cleared SpaceX to resume its launches. The FAA stated that the second stage’s failure to ignite was determined to be the probable cause of the anomaly, while SpaceX has vowed to implement technical and organizational measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

NASA, which closely monitors SpaceX activities, assessed the anomaly’s repercussions on upcoming missions, including the scheduled Crew-12 launch to the International Space Station. NASA concluded that the Falcon 9’s second stage operates under a different profile during crewed missions, thus posing no increased safety risks during the flight’s ascent.

The Crew-12 team arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on the evening prior to the Falcon 9 launch, preparing for their launch aboard a Dragon spacecraft slated for February 11. With these developments, SpaceX is set to maintain its active launch cadence, contributing to advancements in space connectivity and exploration.

In response to the recent launch, SpaceX reiterated its commitment to safety and innovation. The company emphasized that frequent launches provide extensive flight data, which is crucial for improving reliability and operational safety across all their missions. As the space industry continues to evolve, SpaceX’s rapid pace and adaptive strategies position it at the forefront of technological advancement in spaceflight.