Falcon 9 Cadence: 116th flight of 2026 deploys Starlink batch

SpaceX has moved its launch operations to the California coast as the company's primary rocket, the Falcon 9, flies less frequently than in previous years. On Oct. 23, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base to deploy a new batch of Starlink satellites.

The mission, designated Starlink Group 15-15, carried 27 spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The rocket launched at 6:48 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, or 3:48 p.m. local time. The first stage booster, B1063, separated from the upper stage after 2.5 minutes of flight. It then landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You roughly eight minutes after liftoff.

This marked the 36th launch and landing for booster B1063. The same booster previously carried NASA's DART asteroid-smashing mission in November 2021. After the booster landed, the upper stage coasted for approximately 45 minutes before executing a final burn to insert the satellites into orbit. Deployment of the 27 satellites was scheduled to begin 62 minutes after liftoff.

The company is shifting its focus to the Starship rocket, which is designed for full reusability. Starship features a larger payload bay capable of carrying Version 3 Starlink satellites, which are too large for the Falcon 9. SpaceX plans to phase out the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy variants almost entirely once Starship begins operational flights.

The slowing pace of Falcon 9 missions is evident in recent launch gaps. The previous Starlink launch occurred 11 days before the Oct. 23 flight. That prior mission was the first in more than three weeks. At their peak, these missions flew every two to three days. The 100th Falcon 9 launch of 2026, a Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral, was the final Starlink launch from Florida's Space Coast.

The Oct. 23 mission was the 116th Falcon 9 flight of 2026. Approximately three-quarters of this year's launches were dedicated to Starlink. In 2025, the rocket completed 165 launches, which remains its busiest year. At the current rate of flight, the Falcon 9 is expected to complete just under 150 missions by the end of the year.