Cape Canaveral, Florida: SpaceX successfully launched 28 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit late Saturday night, marking a significant milestone for the company’s reusable rocket program.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 10:46 p.m. from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, continuing SpaceX’s rapid launch cadence in 2026.
This mission marked the 33rd flight for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster a record-breaking achievement in orbital-class rocket re usability.
Record-Breaking Booster Performance
The booster supporting Saturday’s launch has an extensive flight history. It previously carried missions including CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, SES 03B, PSN SATRIA Telkomsat Merah Putih 2, Galileo L13, along with 20 prior Starlink deployments.
After stage separation, the first-stage booster successfully landed on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. No sonic booms were reported in Brevard County, as the landing occurred offshore.
The successful recovery marked the 33rd landing for the booster, further demonstrating SpaceX’s advancements in reusability and cost-efficient space operations.
Expanding the Starlink Network
The 28 satellites deployed during the mission are part of SpaceX’s growing Starlink broadband constellation, designed to provide high-speed internet access globally, particularly in underserved and remote regions.
With each mission, SpaceX continues to expand its satellite network while refining rapid-launch and booster-reuse capabilities key components in lowering the cost of access to space.
Next Launch Scheduled
SpaceX is preparing for its next Falcon 9 launch from Florida, scheduled no earlier than 3:56 p.m. on February 24 from Space Launch Complex 40. The upcoming mission, designated Starlink 6-110, will carry another batch of Starlink satellites into orbit.
As Falcon 9 boosters continue setting reusability records, industry analysts say SpaceX is helping redefine the economics of spaceflight, pushing the commercial space industry into a new eras.
