SpaceX launched 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 on Friday, May 28, 2026, just one day after Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a test at the same facility. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 8:57 a.m. ET, falling within the 7:52 a.m. to 11:52 a.m. ET launch window. The 45th Weather Squadron had predicted an 80% chance of favorable conditions, with cumulus and anvil cloud rules as the main concerns.
The mission marked the 16th flight of the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, B1085. This particular booster previously supported NASA’s Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station, a Starlink 6-77 mission, and a commercial lunar lander mission. After stage separation, the booster landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, continuing SpaceX’s record of reusable rocket technology.
The launch occurred amid heightened attention on the Space Coast following Blue Origin’s failed test the previous night. The New Glenn rocket exploded at Launch Complex 36 during a static fire test, raising questions about the challenges of developing heavy-lift vehicles. SpaceX’s successful mission, however, demonstrated the reliability of its Falcon 9 system, which has become a workhorse for both government and commercial payloads.
The 29 Starlink satellites deployed as part of the 10-53 mission will expand SpaceX’s global broadband network. The company has stated the satellites will be used to provide internet services to underserved regions, though specific deployment details were not disclosed in the immediate aftermath of the launch. The mission was observed by local residents and industry watchers, many of whom were still processing the earlier failure at the same spaceport.