ISTANBUL

US tech billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing to launch 28 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday as part of its ongoing constellation expansion.

The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 4 East, carrying satellites for the company's global broadband internet service.

The launch is currently scheduled for 6.28 pm local time (0128GMT, Monday), but delays may occur from time to time due to external and technical reasons.

The mission represents the 28th flight for the first-stage booster, which has previously supported various missions, including Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, and 18 previous Starlink launches.

After stage separation, the first stage will attempt to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship positioned in the Pacific Ocean, continuing SpaceX's rocket recovery operations.

The company said residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear sonic booms during the launch, though the experience depends on weather conditions.

The launch continues SpaceX's rapid Starlink deployment schedule. The company has conducted 10 similar launches in September alone, and the number of satellites in space exceeds 8,000, providing internet coverage to around 130 countries and territories worldwide.