According to SpaceX, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 1:42 a.m. PDT on Wednesday to deliver a fresh batch of Starlink broadband satellites into low Earth orbit. The mission marked the company’s 104th orbital launch of the year and the 79th dedicated Starlink flight of 2026, as operations on the West Coast ramp up to clear space at Cape Canaveral for Starship.
West Coast Starlink Operations and Booster B1063 Reuse
SpaceX is increasingly basing its Starlink launch cadence on the West Coast. This strategic shift allows teams at Cape Canaveral to focus efforts on preparing for the East Coast debut of the massive Starship vehicle, according to company announcements. For Wednesday’s mission, the Falcon 9 first stage booster—designated B1063—marked its 35th flight by lifting off from Space Launch Complex 4-East on a south-easterly trajectory.
Following stage separation, the veteran booster successfully descended and landed on the autonomous droneship “Of Course I Still Love You,” stationed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California. SpaceX confirmed that the upper stage successfully deployed the 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites just over an hour into the flight.
East Coast Contrast: Cape Canaveral Launches and New Glenn Explosion
A Falcon 9 carrying 29 Starlink satellites lifted off at 8:57 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That flight utilized booster B1085, which completed its 16th reuse by landing on the Atlantic Ocean droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas.”
On Thursday night, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket detonated during a static fire test at Launch Complex 36, generating a massive fireball visible more than 100 miles away. Despite the disruption nearby, SpaceX pushed forward with its doubleheader of launches, pushing the total count of active Starlink satellites past 10,400, according to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell cited by Space.com.
Did you know?
Wednesday’s West Coast mission utilized booster B1063 for its 35th flight, while the subsequent East Coast launch used booster B1085 for its 16th flight, highlighting the rapid reusability milestones underpinning modern orbital mechanics.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Starlink missions has SpaceX flown in 2026?
According to mission data, SpaceX has flown 79 Starlink missions out of 104 total orbital launches for the year.
Where did the West Coast Falcon 9 booster land?
The first stage booster landed on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California.
What milestone did satellite tracking show following the Florida launch?
According to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell cited by Space.com, the Florida launch raised the total count of active Starlink satellites to over 10,400.
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