SpaceX Kicks Off 2026 with First Starlink Launch from Vandenberg, Booster Hits Record Milestone
Published Date: 13th Feb, 2026
February 13, 2026
SpaceX began the new year with its inaugural orbital mission of 2026, successfully launching 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday morning. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 3:47 a.m. PST (11:47 UTC) from SLC-4E, marking the 347th Falcon 9 flight overall and the 138th dedicated Starlink mission to date.
The first stage booster, B1081, completed its 15th flight, tying for the second-highest reuse record among Falcon 9 boosters, and landed precisely on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You stationed in the Pacific Ocean approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff. The upper stage deployed the 28 satellites into their target 530 km low Earth orbit at 43° inclination about 66 minutes into the flight.
Mission Highlights and Records
- Payload: 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites (direct-to-cell capable configuration)
- Booster: B1081 (15th flight, matching the reuse record held by B1062 and B1067)
- Landing: Fifth consecutive successful landing for B1081 on the West Coast droneship
- Constellation status: Adds to the existing fleet of more than 7,200 operational Starlink satellites serving over 4 million subscribers globally
This mission continues SpaceX's aggressive cadence following a record-breaking 134 orbital launches in 2025. The company has already completed 12 Starlink missions in the first six weeks of 2026, underscoring its relentless pace in building out global broadband coverage.
Statements and Upcoming Schedule
Elon Musk commented on X shortly after the landing: “Booster 1081 now tied for most flights at 15, still going strong. Starlink growing rapidly, direct-to-cell service expanding to more countries every month.”
SpaceX confirmed the next Starlink launch is targeted for February 18 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The company is also preparing for Starship Flight 8 from Starbase in Texas (late February/early March) and Crew-10 to the International Space Station in late March.
The Vandenberg launch reinforces SpaceX's dual-coast operational capability and its dominance in the global launch market, where Falcon family rockets have delivered more than 80 percent of all orbital mass in 2025. Live webcast replay and mission photos are available on the official SpaceX website and YouTube channel.
Date: 13th Feb, 2026
