SpaceX's vice president of launch operations, Kiko Dontchev, confirmed Tuesday that the Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Aug. 25, 2026, will be the last from Florida. The mission, which lifted off from Pad 40, marks the end of an era for Falcon 9 Starlink launches on the East Coast. Dontchev said Starlink missions from Florida will now use Starship, a fully reusable heavy-lift rocket currently under development. 'This morning’s mission was the last planned Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Florida,' Dontchev wrote on social media. 'From here on, Starlink missions out of Florida will fly on Starship.'
Falcon 9 rockets have conducted over 260 Starlink missions from Florida's Space Coast since 2019, according to Dontchev. The vehicle has become the most reliable launch system in history, he said, crediting the team at SpaceX's nearby launch facilities. 'Super proud of this incredible team,' Dontchev posted. 'You’ve made Falcon 9 the most reliable launch vehicle in history.' The final Falcon 9 Starlink launch used the 'fleet leading booster,' a reused rocket that has flown multiple missions before.
Starship, which SpaceX aims to debut for orbital flights in 2027, will take over Starlink launches from Florida once it is operational. The West Coast team at Vandenberg Space Force Base will continue regular Starlink launches from California, Dontchev said. Starship's development has faced delays, but the company remains on track to begin test flights from Boca Chica, Texas, later this year. If successful, Starship could eventually carry both Starlink satellites and crew to the Moon and Mars.
The shift from Falcon 9 to Starship represents a major change for Brevard County, home to SpaceX's primary launch operations. Local officials and industry leaders have long anticipated the transition, though some have expressed concerns about the economic impact of reduced Falcon 9 activity. SpaceX has not yet announced plans for Starship launches from Florida, but the company has stated its intent to use the East Coast for future missions. 'This is the beginning of the next chapter,' Dontchev said. 'Starship will take us further than ever before.'