SpaceX Launches 116th Rocket of 2026, Marking Shift Away From Falcon 9

SpaceX has historically relied on its Falcon 9 rocket for the majority of its commercial space traffic, but that frequency is declining. On Oct. 23, the company lifted off from the California coast to launch its 116th Falcon 9 of the year.

The mission carried 27 Starlink broadband internet satellites into orbit. The rocket departed from Pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 6:48 p.m. EDT, which corresponded to 3:48 p.m. local time. The payload fairing, which protected the spacecraft during ascent, was jettisoned just before the three-minute mark.

The first stage booster, designated B1063, separated from the upper stage 2.5 minutes after liftoff. It subsequently reoriented itself and landed on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You." This marked the 36th launch and landing for that specific booster, which previously supported NASA's DART asteroid mission in November 2021. The upper stage was scheduled to perform a final burn to place the satellites in low Earth orbit 62 minutes after liftoff.

SpaceX is transitioning its focus from the Falcon 9 to its Starship rocket. Starship is designed for full reusability and features a payload bay large enough for Version 3 Starlink satellites. These newer satellites are too large for the Falcon 9 fairing. Once Starship begins operational flights, the company plans to phase out the Falcon 9 and its heavier Falcon Heavy variant almost entirely.

The launch schedule reflects this shift in corporate priorities. The company's 100th Falcon 9 launch of 2026, which carried Starlink group 10-49 from Cape Canaveral, was identified as the final Starlink mission from Florida's Space Coast. A similar pattern is emerging on the West Coast. At peak capacity, Falcon 9 Starlink missions flew every two to three days. The most recent launch before Oct. 23 occurred 11 days earlier, following a gap of more than three weeks.

The Oct. 23 flight contributes to a constellation of more than 11,000 active Starlink spacecraft. Approximately three-quarters of the Falcon 9 missions in 2026 have been dedicated to Starlink. The current pace suggests the rocket will complete just under 150 missions by the end of the year. This total would leave 2025, which saw 165 launches, as the busiest year in the rocket's history.