SpaceX will attempt to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station no earlier than 9:04 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. The mission will send 28 Starlink internet satellites into orbit. This launch is notable because the booster will make its 33rd flight, a record for SpaceX. The same booster last flew on Dec. 8, 2025, during the Starlink 6-92 mission.
The booster has been reused multiple times since its first flight in 2019. SpaceX has been landing and refurbishing its Falcon 9 boosters to extend their operational lifespan. This particular booster has already completed 32 flights and landings, according to company data. If this mission is successful, it will mark the first time a SpaceX booster has reached 33 flights.
The rocket will follow a southeast trajectory after liftoff. Its first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean about eight and a half minutes after launch. No sonic booms are expected over Brevard County due to the landing location. The launch window extends until 1:04 a.m. Sunday if weather or technical issues delay the mission.
Live updates will be available 90 minutes before liftoff on Florida Today’s website. The mission is part of SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to expand global broadband coverage through its Starlink constellation. The company has already launched over 4,000 Starlink satellites since 2020.