SpaceX marks Halloween with Starlink satellite deployment

A Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 12:04 a.m. EDT (0404 GMT; 9:04 p.m. on October 30 local time), carrying 27 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO).

The first stage of the Falcon 9 returned to Earth approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, landing on the SpaceX drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean.

This was the 18th flight for booster B1093, falling short of the record of 37 flights achieved by booster B1067 in August.

The Falcon 9’s upper stage deployed the 27 satellites into LEO roughly 62 minutes after launch. These satellites join a constellation of over 11,000 spacecraft, making it the largest satellite network in operation.

This launch represents the 118th Falcon 9 flight of 2026. Approximately 70% of SpaceX’s missions this year have been dedicated to expanding the Starlink network.

SpaceX has also conducted three launches each of its Falcon Heavy and Starship rockets this year. Falcon Heavy is currently operational, while Starship remains in the test-flight phase. The company anticipates another Starship launch in November.