- SpaceX set a new record by launching two Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.
- The first Falcon 9 launched from Florida at 9:12 p.m. EDT, carrying eight Globalstar satellites.
- The second Falcon 9 launched from California at 9:50 p.m. EDT for the USSF-366 mission.
- Both rockets landed successfully; the first stage for Globalstar landed at Cape Canaveral, while the second landed on a droneship.
- New record set: 38 minutes between launches, beating the previous mark by 27 minutes.
- The Globalstar mission successfully deployed all eight spacecraft over a six-minute span beginning 56.5 minutes after liftoff.
- The USS-366 Falcon 9 first stage landed in the Pacific Ocean on the SpaceX droneship "Of Course I Still Love You".
- Saturday's doubleheader brought the tally of Falcon 9 launches in 2026 to 96, with about 75% being Starlink missions.
SpaceX set a new record on Saturday by launching two Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart, surpassing its previous record by 27 minutes. The first rocket lifted off from Florida at 9:12 p.m. EDT, carrying eight satellites for Globalstar to low Earth orbit (LEO).125
The successful deployment of all eight spacecraft occurred over a six-minute span, beginning 56.5 minutes after liftoff. Meanwhile, the second Falcon 9 launched from California at 9:50 p.m. EDT, initiating the USSF-366 mission, which is believed to involve classified LEO satellites for a U.S. government entity.3
Both missions featured successful landings of their respective boosters. The Falcon 9 that launched the Globalstar mission returned to Cape Canaveral approximately eight minutes post-launch, marking its 14th flight. The USSF-366 booster landed in the Pacific Ocean on the SpaceX droneship "Of Course I Still Love You", completing its 18th mission.6
This doubleheader brought the total number of Falcon 9 launches in 2026 to 96, with around 75% of those being Starlink missions.8
“The first launch deployed eight Globalstar satellites to low Earth orbit, while the second carried a classified payload for a U.S. government entity, possibly using SpaceX's Starshield bus. Saturday's doubleheader brought the 2026 Falcon 9 launch tally to 96, with about 75% being Starlink missions.”
