Successful Liftoff from Vandenberg
SpaceX successfully executed another mission to expand its global broadband network on September 19. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 9:47 p.m. EDT (0147 GMT on Sept. 20).
Booster Recovery and Deployment
Following the successful launch, the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster returned to Earth, landing on the SpaceX drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff. This mission marked the 17th flight for booster 1093. Meanwhile, the rocket's upper stage continued its journey, successfully deploying the 27 satellites into low Earth orbit about 62 minutes into the mission.
The Growing Starlink Constellation
With this latest deployment, the scale of SpaceX's satellite network continues to rise. According to expert satellite tracker and astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, the Starlink megaconstellation now features over 11,100 active spacecraft orbiting our planet.
2026 Flight Statistics
This mission represents a significant data point in SpaceX's operational calendar for the year:
- This was the 107th Falcon 9 mission overall in 2026.
- It marked the 81st flight specifically focused on Starlink network expansion this year.
While these figures demonstrate a high operational tempo, they remain slightly behind the record-setting pace established in 2025. Last year, SpaceX completed 165 Falcon 9 launches, with 122 dedicated to Starlink. Based on current trends, 2026 is projected to conclude with approximately 149 launches, including 113 Starlink-specific missions.