After storms moved through Cape Canaveral, skies cleared and a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the Starlink 6-88 mission at 1:48 a.m. ET on Jan. 4 from LC-40. The rocket delivered 29 Starlink satellites and its booster landed on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions with no sonic booms reported in Brevard County. The next Florida Falcon 9 launch is scheduled no earlier than 1:29 p.m. ET on Jan. 8, with the following batch labeled Starlink 6-96.
Liftoff: SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Florida’s First Rocket Mission of 2026, Deploying 29 Starlink Satellites
After a stretch of clouds and rain at the Cape, skies cleared and a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rose from the pad — marking Florida’s first rocket launch of 2026.
Launch Details
The Starlink 6-88 mission lifted off at 1:48 a.m. ET on Jan. 4 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 carried 29 Starlink internet satellites on the booster's first flight.
After stage separation the booster successfully returned to the Atlantic, landing on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions. Local officials and residents in Brevard County reported no sonic booms during the recovery.
What’s Next
SpaceX has scheduled the next Falcon 9 launch from Florida for no earlier than 1:29 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 8, again from LC-40. That mission is expected to continue deployment of SpaceX's global internet constellation; the upcoming batch is labeled Starlink 6-96.
About Starlink
Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet network designed to provide broadband connectivity worldwide. Regular launches replenish and expand the constellation to improve coverage and performance.
Report: Brooke Edwards, Space Reporter, Florida Today. Contact: bedwards@floridatoday.com | X: @brookeofstars
Originally published by Florida Today.
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