SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will launch 27 Starlink satellites on September 30, 2026, marking the 25th flight of its first‑stage booster.
SpaceX is set to launch another batch of Starlink satellites on September 30, 2026, using a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission will carry 27 satellites and will be the 25th flight of the booster’s first stage, demonstrating the company’s continued reliance on reusable hardware.
Mission Overview
The Falcon 9 will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, a historic pad that has hosted Apollo and Shuttle missions. The vehicle’s first stage is slated to return to land on the autonomous drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Atlantic Ocean.
Each of the 27 Starlink satellites will be deployed into a low‑Earth orbit, joining the existing constellation that provides broadband internet to remote regions worldwide.
Booster Reuse Milestone
This flight marks the 25th time the same first‑stage booster has been reflown, underscoring SpaceX’s cost‑saving strategy. The booster’s performance data will be closely monitored to assess wear on its Merlin engines and landing legs.
Launch Timeline
- 09:00 UTC – Countdown begins
- 09:30 UTC – Liftoff from LC‑39A
- 09:32 UTC – First‑stage separation
- 09:35 UTC – Booster landing on drone ship
- 09:45 UTC – Satellite deployment sequence
SpaceX expects the mission to last approximately 10 minutes from liftoff to final satellite deployment, after which the booster will be prepared for its next flight.
"Every successful reuse brings us closer to making space more affordable," a SpaceX spokesperson said in a pre‑launch briefing.
For full details, see the official launch page on SpaceX’s website.
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