SpaceX launched 29 Starlink satellites into orbit on Aug. 21, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 11:14 a.m. EDT, a day after a scrubbed attempt on Aug. 20. The mission marked the 98th Falcon 9 flight of the year, with 75 of those launches dedicated to Starlink. The rocket’s first stage landed successfully on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the 30th landing for booster B1078. The upper stage will deploy the satellites into low Earth orbit 61.5 minutes after launch. Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and satellite tracker, said nearly 11,000 Starlink satellites are already operational in space. This mission was the 23rd Starlink launch for booster B1078, which has previously supported Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER-B, and other missions. SpaceX has conducted three other launches in 2026, including a Falcon Heavy flight and two Starship test flights. The delay on Aug. 20 was not immediately explained by the company. The Falcon 9’s first stage touched down on the drone ship shortly after its 30th landing, a testament to the booster’s reusability. The satellites will expand SpaceX’s global broadband network, though the company has faced criticism from astronomers over light pollution from the constellation. SpaceX’s Starlink program has grown rapidly, with the latest launch bringing the total number of satellites deployed to over 11,000. The company plans to continue launching Starlink missions throughout 2026, with more than 75 dedicated flights already completed this year. The successful landing of B1078 highlights SpaceX’s progress in rocket reuse, a key factor in reducing launch costs. The mission was the 98th Falcon 9 flight of the year, with the rocket’s upper stage continuing to carry the satellites toward their orbital destination.