SpaceX launches nearly 30 Starlink satellites

SpaceX launched 29 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 on May 29, 2026. The launch occurred within the 7:52 a.m. to 11:52 a.m. ET window, with liftoff at 8:57 a.m. ET, under favorable weather conditions (80% chance of good weather). The mission, designated Starlink 10-53, follows Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explosion during a test fire at Launch Complex 36 the prior evening. The Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, B1085, achieved its 16th launch, including missions like NASA’s Crew-9 to the International Space Station and a commercial lunar lander. After stage separation, the booster landed on the droneship *A Shortfall of Gravitas* in the Atlantic Ocean. The satellites will join SpaceX’s existing Starlink constellation in low-Earth orbit, expanding global internet coverage. As of the launch, Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysicist Dr. Jonathan McDowell tracked 10,413 Starlink satellites in orbit, with 9,213 operational. The new satellites will deploy in orbit to provide broadband service to underserved regions. The launch underscores SpaceX’s rapid pace of satellite deployments amid competition in the space industry. The event drew attention after Blue Origin’s failed test, highlighting ongoing challenges in rocket development. SpaceX’s continued success with reusable boosters contrasts with setbacks for other companies, reinforcing its dominance in commercial space launches. The Starlink 10-53 mission marks another step in SpaceX’s goal to expand its satellite internet network globally.