SpaceX Launches 27 Starlink Satellites on 101st Falcon 9 Mission of 2026
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Aug 26
SpaceX Launches 27 Starlink Satellites on 101st Falcon 9 Mission of 2026
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Aug 26
Summary
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg at 5:35 a.m. EDT carrying 27 Starlink satellites, with deployment into low Earth orbit scheduled 62 minutes after launch.
Booster B1082 completed its 24th flight and landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You about 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
The mission expands a Starlink network that already has more than 11,000 active spacecraft, the largest satellite constellation in orbit.
Falcon 9 has now flown 101 times in 2026, including 78 Starlink missions, keeping SpaceX on pace for about 155 launches this year versus its 165-launch record in 2025.
Vandenberg is now SpaceX's only Falcon 9 Starlink launch site after the company said Aug. 25 it is pausing Florida Starlink flights until Starship can take over there.