AI Insight
SpaceX successfully launched 27 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit on October 27, 2026, at 3:25 a.m. EDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California using a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission's first-stage booster B1082 completed its 26th overall flight and 21st Starlink mission, landing successfully on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" approximately 8 minutes and 23 seconds after liftoff. The upper stage performed two engine burns to circularize the orbit before deploying the satellites, marking the 117th Falcon 9 launch of 2026.
Why it matters
This launch contributes to SpaceX's Starlink network of over 11,000 active satellites providing global internet coverage, though the pace of deployments has slowed as the company transitions focus toward its next-generation Starship rocket. The mission represents part of SpaceX's planned phase-out of Falcon 9 operations, including the cessation of Starlink launches from Florida earlier in 2026.
Understand the Science
A new stack of Starlink satellites is now in orbit following an early morning SpaceX launch from California.
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 3:25 a.m. EDT (0725 GMT) on Oct. 27, from from Pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The rocket delivered the 27 satellites of Starlink Group 15-16 to low Earth orbit (LEO), and successfully executed its first stage booster landing.
The mission’s booster, B1082, cut its engines and disengaged from Falcon 9’s upper stage approximately 2.5 minutes into flight, and adjusted its trajectory for a touchdown on SpaceX’s Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) droneship in the Pacific Ocean.
B1082 successfullly landed on OCISLY at T+8:23, seconds before Falcon 9’s second stage completed its first engine burn. The return of B1082 marks the booster’s 21st Starlink mission, and 26th overall flight, the others of which include USSF-62, OneWeb Launch 20, NROL-145, Transporter-18.
Falcon 9’s upper stage ignited its engine for a second time about 53 minutes after liftoff, circularizing its orbit with a burn that lasted a very short 3 seconds. That was followed several minutes later by the deployment of the rocket’s Starlink payloads.
USSF-62 | OneWeb Launch 20 | NROL-145 | Transporter-18 | 26 Starlink missions
SpaceX’s Starlink network consists of more than 11,000 active spacecraft. The speed with which the company is delivering them to orbit in bulk, however, has slowed somewhat.
As SpaceX shifts focus to its larger, more powerful Starship rocket under development, plans to retire Falcon 9 have already begun. Part of that process included ending Starlink launches from Florida earlier this year.
Today’s mission was the 117th Falcon 9 launch of 2026, so far. About three-quarters of those were dedicated to Starlink.
Source: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches early morning Starlink mission from California (video)