Cape Canaveral, Florida – SpaceX successfully launched a new batch of 29 Starlink satellites on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 6:31 p.m. EDT. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, beginning another step in the expansion of the Starlink megaconstellation.

About nine minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s upper stage reached preliminary orbit, preparing to deploy its payload roughly an hour after launch following a coast phase and a second burn of the Merlin engine.

The booster, designated B1080, completed its 24th flight, landing successfully atop the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. The achievement marked another milestone for reusable rocket technology, continuing SpaceX’s streak of reliable booster recoveries.

With this launch, the Starlink network now exceeds 9,500 active satellites, offering internet coverage to remote areas worldwide and supporting in-flight Wi-Fi and direct cell-to-satellite calls for select providers.

Sunday’s mission was SpaceX’s eighth launch of 2026 and the 591st Falcon 9 flight since 2010, reinforcing the company’s record-setting pace in orbital deployment and satellite internet expansion.

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