SpaceX launches Falcon 9 Starlink mission for 1st time in more than 3 weeks (photo)
SpaceX ended an unusual launch drought by sending 27 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base.
SpaceX ended an unusual launch drought by sending 27 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. It marked the first Falcon 9 Starlink mission since September 19, ending a rare break in a schedule that previously featured rapid sequential flights.
The first-stage booster landed safely on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean about 8.5 minutes after launch, marking its 20th flight and landing. The upper stage deployed the satellites into low Earth orbit 62 minutes after liftoff. The mission highlights the ongoing reliance on the Falcon 9, which remains the industry's workhorse rocket.
SpaceX plans to eventually replace both the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy with the fully reusable Starship. According to company statements, Starship will eventually handle launches for the planned Starlink V3 constellation, which is projected to grow to about 100,000 satellites. For 2026, the flight count has slowed compared to previous years.
Today's flight represents the 112th Falcon 9 liftoff of the year, with 82 dedicated to expanding the active Starlink megaconstellation of more than 11,100 satellites.
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Original publication: 13 October 2026 08:45
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