Falcon 9 misses launch window as Starlink fleet surpasses 11,000 satellites
SpaceX flew its 116th mission of 2026 after an 11-day pause, marking a sharp drop in the workhorse rocket's annual pace.
By Alessia Desai ·
The gap between Falcon 9 launches stretched to 11 days before SpaceX resumed its Starlink operations on Oct. 23. The pause followed a previous flight that was the first in over three weeks, signaling a distinct slowdown for the rocket that once dominated the space launch market.
SpaceX lifted off 27 Starlink Group 15-15 satellites from Pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 6:48 p.m. EDT. The launch was the 116th Falcon 9 mission of 2026. About three-quarters of the year's flights have dedicated to the internet constellation, which now consists of more than 11,000 active spacecraft.
Booster B1063 separated from the upper stage 2.5 minutes after liftoff. It landed on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' eight minutes into the mission. This marked the booster's 36th flight and landing. The vehicle previously launched NASA's DART asteroid deflection mission in November 2021.
The upper stage burned its engines again after the booster landed. A second burn was scheduled 45 minutes later to insert the payload into orbit. The 27 satellites were set for deployment 62 minutes after the rocket left the pad.
SpaceX is shifting its primary launch focus to Starship. This larger, fully reusable rocket features a payload bay designed for Version 3 Starlink satellites. Those new satellites are too large for the Falcon 9 fairing. The company plans to phase out the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy variants once Starship operational flights begin.
The transition is already affecting launch cadence. The 100th Falcon 9 launch of 2026, the Starlink 10-49 group, was the final Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral. The West Coast may see a similar shift soon. At the current rate, Falcon 9 will complete just under 150 missions by year's end. That total will leave 2025, which recorded 165 launches, as the rocket's busiest year.
The company aims to maintain the constellation's size despite the reduced flight schedule. The 11-day gap represents a departure from the peak cadence of every two to three days. The Oct. 23 mission confirms that the Falcon 9 remains active but is no longer the sole driver of Starlink expansion.
