A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch for the 36th time early Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking a milestone for the reusable rocket. The launch is scheduled for 5:25 a.m. EDT (0925 GMT) and will carry 29 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. The mission will be broadcast live by SpaceX starting about 10 minutes before liftoff. This particular booster, designated 1067, has already completed 35 flights, more than any other Falcon 9 in history. NASA’s space shuttle Discovery holds the overall orbital flight record with 39 missions. If successful, booster 1067 will extend its own company record. The rocket will return to Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, landing on the SpaceX drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean. The upper stage will deploy the Starlink satellites 63.5 minutes after launch. This will be the 80th Falcon 9 mission of 2026, with about 80% of the rocket’s flights this year focused on Starlink. The satellite network now has over 10,700 active satellites, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell. Booster 1067 has previously supported missions including Crew-3, Crew-4, and multiple Starlink launches. The rocket’s reusability has been a key factor in SpaceX’s ability to rapidly deploy satellites. The July 9 launch will be the first Falcon 9 mission of the month and the second of the week. SpaceX has conducted 2026 flights from Cape Canaveral and other sites, with Starlink being the primary payload. The company aims to expand global broadband coverage through the constellation. The Falcon 9’s first stage has landed 35 times, with each landing reducing the cost of spaceflight. The July 9 mission will be the 80th of the year, highlighting the rocket’s role in SpaceX’s commercial operations. The Starlink satellites will be deployed into low Earth orbit, where they will provide internet services. The mission underscores SpaceX’s commitment to reusable rocket technology and its impact on the space industry.