### SpaceX Completes 16th Falcon 9 Launch of the Month, Ties Monthly Record

On May 31, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched its 16th Falcon 9 mission of the month, matching its previous monthly record set in November 2024. This latest launch carried 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit and was conducted from Vandenberg Space Force Base’s Space Launch Complex 4 East.

The Starlink 11-18 mission saw a liftoff at 1:10 p.m. PDT (4:10 p.m. EDT, 2010 UTC) under foggy conditions. The first-stage booster used, B1071, was on its 25th flight. This particular booster has a storied history, having been used in three rideshare missions, five National Reconnaissance Office missions, and 14 additional Starlink missions.

In a testament to SpaceX's reliability, B1071 landed successfully on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" approximately eight minutes after launch. This marked the 133rd landing on this vessel and the 455th successful landing of a Falcon 9 overall. Confirmation of the successful deployment of the Starlink satellites came shortly after via SpaceX's social media channels.

During a pre-launch media teleconference, Anne Mason, SpaceX’s director of National Security Space Launch, revealed the company's ambitious target for 2025 — launching at least 170 Falcon 9 missions. This goal follows a record 132 missions completed in 2024 and demonstrates the company’s increased cadence, having accomplished 144 launches in the past year.

Reflecting on SpaceX's rapid progress, Mason pointed out that the company has dramatically increased its launch rate from roughly 25 missions in 2020 to a present average of launching every two to three days. She attributed this feat to the Falcon rocket’s reusability and the dedicated efforts of the SpaceX team.

Additionally, to support this increased launch cadence, SpaceX has a production schedule that rolls out a Falcon second stage every two-and-a-half days. The company is also looking to expand its capabilities further through the proposed acquisition of Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Public review for this proposal runs until July 7, with the Department of the Air Force expected to release its Final Environmental Impact Statement in the Fall.