SpaceX Launches 27 Starlink Satellites on Halloween Falcon 9 Flight

SpaceX rang in Halloween with its 118th Falcon 9 launch of 2026, lifting off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:04 a.m. EDT on 31 October. The rocket carried 27 Starlink internet satellites, which were deployed into low Earth orbit approximately 62 minutes after liftoff. The new satellites are joining a megaconstellation that already holds more than 11,000 spacecraft — by far the largest satellite network ever assembled. The first-stage booster, designated B1093, made its 18th flight and touched down on SpaceX's drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean about 8.5 minutes after launch. The all-time SpaceX booster reuse record stands at 37 flights, set this past August by booster B1067. More than 70% of SpaceX's 2026 Falcon 9 missions have been dedicated to expanding the Starlink network. SpaceX has also launched its Falcon Heavy and Starship rockets three times each this year; while Falcon Heavy is fully operational, Starship is still in the test-flight phase, with another launch expected sometime in November.