SpaceX successfully completed its third mission of 2026 on Friday, launching a series of 29 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This mission continues SpaceX’s aggressive launch pace; the Falcon9 rocket, carrying the Starlink Internet satellites, lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Friday (January 9) at 4:41 PM EST (2141 GMT).
The rocket’s first stage landed in the Atlantic Ocean about 8.5 minutes after launch. It was the 29th launch and landing for this particular booster.
The Falcon 9 upper stage delivered the 29 satellites into low Earth orbit on schedule, about 65 minutes after launch.
Starlink is one of the largest constellations, consisting of more than 9,400 active spacecraft, and that number is constantly growing.
Friday’s launch was SpaceX’s third in 2026. The company launched 165 orbital missions, nearly three-quarters of which were dedicated Starlink flights.
This recent achievement marks a fast start to the year while solidifying its position in the field of orbital launches and its utmost commitment to rapid reusability.
