SpaceX Launches 29 Starlink Satellites from Florida, Continuing Record Pace
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Jan. 18, 2026, to expand its global broadband internet constellation. The mission, dubbed Starlink 6-100, lifted off at 6:31 p.m. ET from Launch Complex 40. The first-stage booster, on its 24th flight, targeted a landing on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, SpaceX said.
Weather conditions improved to 90% favorable by the end of the four-hour launch window, despite initial delays from a cold front and winds, the U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron said. "Odds of favorable weather should increase from 60% during the four-hour window’s dinnertime opening to 90% by its conclusion," the squadron said in a forecast cited by Florida Today.
The launch followed a pattern of frequent missions from Florida's Space Coast. It came two weeks after Starlink 6-88 on Jan. 4, 2026, which marked the first orbital launch of the year from Launch Complex 40, according to Florida Today. Another mission, Starlink 6-101, followed on Jan. 30, 2026, at 2:22 a.m. ET, deploying another 29 satellites under chilly nighttime conditions, the outlet reported.
Florida set a record with 109 orbital launches in 2025, with SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets accounting for 101 of them, according to data compiled by Florida Today. That total surpassed previous annual highs, establishing the region as a leading spaceport. SpaceX's Starlink missions drove much of the activity, with examples including Starlink 12-7 on Jan. 27, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. ET, and Starlink 12-3 on Feb. 4, 2025, at 5:15 a.m. ET, which deployed 21 satellites after a fog-related scrub the previous day.
Other 2025 missions highlighted the routine nature of these operations. Starlink 12-22 launched on May 24, 2025, in the afternoon ahead of potential convection, while Starlink 12-25 lifted off around 4 p.m. on March 18, 2025, coinciding with the splashdown of NASA's Starliner spacecraft, Florida Today said. A non-Starlink mission, Nusantara Lima, carried an Indonesian telecommunications satellite on Sept. 11, 2025, in the evening after three scrubs.
The Starlink program, which began in 2019, has deployed thousands of satellites to provide internet access worldwide. Missions typically carry 21 to 29 satellites each, with trajectories designed to avoid sonic booms in Brevard County, according to local reports. The Falcon 9's Block 5 variant, introduced in 2018, enables the high reuse rates seen in these flights, SpaceX has said.
The booster's reuse highlights SpaceX's focus on cost reduction through recoverable hardware. Drone ship landings, such as on A Shortfall of Gravitas, have become standard to recover boosters without returning to land, reducing local noise impacts, officials said. No return-to-launch-site landings occurred for these missions.
The 2026 launches signal continued momentum. After the 2025 record, SpaceX resumed operations with Starlink 6-88 on Jan. 4, followed by the Jan. 18 and Jan. 30 missions. Mission numbering shifted from "12-xx" in 2025 to "6-xx" in 2026, likely reflecting different groups of Starlink v2 mini satellites, according to tracking data from sources like NASA Spaceflight.
"Florida’s Space Coast — home of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — remains the reigning rocket launch capital of the world. Last year ushered in a new annual record of 109 orbital launches, with SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rockets accounting for 101 of those missions," Florida Today reported.
These routine Starlink flights reflect broader trends in commercial space. SpaceX dominates Florida launches, comprising over 90% in recent years, and competes with projects like Amazon's Kuiper and OneWeb. The high tempo supports Starlink's growth, now serving millions of users, while boosting the local economy through tourism and jobs.
Experts note the surge ties to SpaceX's reusability advancements since the Falcon 9 Block 5 debut. The company eyes even higher rates in 2026, amid developments in its Starship program for Mars missions and national security payloads.
Local impacts include temporary road closures and viewing crowds, but no major disruptions were reported for the Jan. 18 launch. Authorities advise spectators to follow safety guidelines from the Space Force.
No immediate confirmation emerged on the Jan. 18 booster landing or satellite deployment success. SpaceX typically provides updates via its website and social media after missions. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the mission's outcome. Updates will follow as details become available.
