Space Coast sees back-to-back missions including crewed NASA flight and Starlink launch
Florida – A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Florida in the early hours of February 16, marking SpaceX’s most recent confirmed launch from the Space Coast as of mid-February, NS ARROW reported.
The mission departed from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at approximately 2:59 a.m. EST, sending a new batch of Starlink satellites toward low Earth orbit.
The rocket carried 29 Starlink spacecraft, identified as optimized V2 Mini versions, continuing the steady expansion of SpaceX’s global broadband constellation. Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle followed a southeasterly trajectory over the Atlantic.
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About eight and a half minutes into flight, the first-stage booster—flying for the 10th time—successfully completed its descent and touched down on the droneship A Short Fall of Gravitas, demonstrating the company’s routine reuse of flight hardware.
The predawn launch came just days after another major Florida mission. On February 13, SpaceX and NASA sent four astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft during the Crew-12 mission, also launched from the same pad. That flight drew attention for achieving a land-based booster recovery near the launch site, a notable milestone for crewed operations.
SpaceX’s rapid cadence in early 2026 underscores Florida’s role as one of the world’s busiest launch regions. Multiple Starlink deployments and human spaceflight missions have occurred within a short span, with additional launches already targeted for the coming days.
One upcoming Starlink flight is expected to follow a slightly different flight path toward the southeast, potentially featuring a booster landing in waters near the Bahamas.
Together, these missions reflect the company’s continuing focus on reusable rocket technology and frequent orbital deliveries, both of which remain central to the ongoing buildout of the Starlink network and the broader pace of activity along Florida’s Space Coast.
