SpaceX Launches 28 Starlink Satellites in First Flight of 2026 from Vandenberg

February 13, 2026

SpaceX successfully launched 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit early Friday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking the company's first orbital mission of 2026 and the 12th Starlink deployment of the year. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 3:47 a.m. PST (11:47 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 4 East, delivering the satellites to their target orbit approximately 66 minutes later.

The first stage booster, B1081 making its 15th flight, successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You stationed in the Pacific Ocean, continuing SpaceX's record-setting reusability streak. This marked the booster's fifth consecutive successful landing on the West Coast droneship.

Mission Details

• Payload: 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites (direct-to-cell capable version)
• Orbit: 530 km low Earth orbit, 43° inclination
• Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5 (first stage B1081, 15th flight)
• Landing: Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship "Of Course I Still Love You"
• Booster reuse milestone: 15th flight for B1081, tying for the second-most flights by any Falcon 9 booster

The mission was SpaceX's 347th Falcon 9 launch overall and the 138th dedicated Starlink flight. The satellites will join the rapidly expanding Starlink constellation, which now exceeds 7,200 operational spacecraft providing broadband internet coverage to over 4 million subscribers worldwide.

Recent Context and Upcoming Launches

The launch follows a busy end to 2025, during which SpaceX completed 134 orbital missions , a new annual record. The company has maintained an aggressive cadence into 2026, with additional Starlink missions planned from both Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg in the coming weeks.

SpaceX also continues to ramp up Starship development flights from Starbase in Texas, with Starship Flight 8 targeted for late February or early March. Meanwhile, the company is preparing Crew-10 for launch to the International Space Station in late March, carrying NASA astronauts and international partners.

Statements from SpaceX

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk posted on X shortly after the landing: "Booster 1081 now tied for most flights at 15. Still going strong. Starlink growing fast , next gen satellites already providing direct-to-cell service in multiple countries."

The successful mission reinforces SpaceX's position as the world's leading launch provider, with more than 80 percent of all orbital mass delivered to space in 2025 coming from Falcon family rockets.

Live webcast replay and mission highlights are available on the official SpaceX website and YouTube channel. The next scheduled Starlink launch is targeted for February 18 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.