SpaceX’s last Falcon 9 Starlink mission from Florida launched Aug. 25, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 40. The flight marked the end of a chapter for the company’s Starlink constellation, which drove a record 109 launches in Brevard County in 2025. SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev confirmed the mission was the final planned Starlink launch from Florida, redirecting future operations to California and awaiting Starship infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-A.
The slowdown comes as SpaceX refocuses resources on building a Starlink-specific launch tower at LC-39A, which has been repurposed from Falcon Heavy use. Dontchev said Florida-based Falcon 9 missions will no longer carry Starlink satellites until Starship is operational, a transition that has already reduced the number of launches from the Space Coast in 2026. This year, Florida accounted for 32 of SpaceX’s 77 Starlink missions, over two-thirds of the company’s total launches from Brevard County.
SpaceX has deployed nearly 12,800 Starlink satellites since 2019, with almost 10,000 still active. The shift to California for Starlink launches follows a broader strategy to consolidate operations as Starship development progresses. Meanwhile, Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39A remains a focal point for future Starlink missions once its dedicated tower is completed.
The change affects the Space Coast’s launch schedule, which saw 32 Falcon 9 missions in 2026 compared to 109 in 2025. While SpaceX continues to use Florida for other launches, the absence of Starlink missions from the East Coast signals a long-term realignment of the company’s presence in Brevard County.