SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets on consecutive days—first from Vandenberg, then from Cape Canaveral—deploying 25 and 29 Starlink satellites respectively for a combined 54 new spacecraft. Both first-stage boosters (B1071 and B1095) successfully landed on droneships in the Pacific and Atlantic. The missions raised the active Starlink count to 9,985 and marked SpaceX's 625th mission, 585th landing, and 32nd flight of 2026.
SpaceX Flies Coast-to-Coast: Two Falcon 9 Launches Deploy 54 Starlink Satellites in Two Days
Two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets carrying Starlink satellites were launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California (at left) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 13 and 14, 2026. | Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX completed two back-to-back Falcon 9 launches from opposite U.S. coasts, deploying a combined 54 Starlink satellites and recovering both first-stage boosters on ocean droneships.
Launch Details
On March 13, a Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California carrying 25 Starlink satellites (Group 17-31). The payload was deployed into low Earth orbit roughly one hour after the 10:57 a.m. EDT liftoff.
The following day, a second Falcon 9 launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. That mission carried 29 Starlink satellites (Group 10-48), which were successfully released after the 7:37 a.m. EDT liftoff.
Booster Recoveries
Both first-stage boosters returned and landed as planned. Booster 1071 (B1071) landed on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" stationed in the Pacific, while Booster 1095 (B1095) touched down on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions" in the Atlantic.
Fleet Count And Company Milestones
Satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell reports the two launches increased the number of active Starlink satellites to 9,985. According to SpaceX, Saturday's flight marked the company's 625th completed mission, its 585th successful booster landing, and was its 32nd launch of 2026.
Booster Flight Histories
Booster 1071 Previous Missions: NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, Transporter-13, NROL-146, Bandwagon-2, NROL-153, NROL-192, Transporter-14, Transporter-15, and 19 prior Starlink missions.
Booster 1095 Previous Missions: Starlink Group 12-15, Starlink Group 10-56, Starlink Group 10-52, Starlink Group 6-86, Starlink Group 6-101.
These coast-to-coast launches showcase SpaceX's sustained launch cadence and continued expansion of the Starlink megaconstellation aimed at improving global broadband coverage.
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