A new rocket launch record in California is now days away from being set after SpaceX helped notch the record-tying mission following a series of delays in recent days.
The commercial spaceflight company's
Falcon 9 rocket got off the ground Friday, Oct. 23 on what marked the 71st spaceflight of 2026 at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. The mission, which saw the rocket deliver SpaceX's Starlink satellites to Earth orbit, matched a California record set in 2025 for the number of launches in a single year.
The mission had been delayed three times in as many days after the two-stage rocket was originally set to liftoff Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Now, all eyes are looking ahead to the launch that will see California set yet another spaceflight record.
Here's everything to know about the launch that tied the record, as well as the next one that will set a new one.
SpaceX Starlink mission marks record-tying rocket launch in California
SpaceX launched its two-stage Falcon 9 rocket at 3:48 p.m. PT Friday, Oct. 23, at the Vandenberg Space Force Base. Liftoff took place at Space Launch Complex 4-East (SLC-4E) – the site SpaceX leases from the U.S. Space Force, which manages the military base.
The world's most active rocket then traveled on a southeast trajectory to deliver a batch of 27 Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit – a region of space closer to the atmosphere. Following stage separation, the upper stage continued on into space while the rocket booster returned to land on SpaceX's drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You," stationed in the Pacific Ocean, so it can be reused on future missions, according to SpaceX.
The mission, which finally got off the ground after three previous delays, marked the 71st rocket launch of 2026 – tying California's annual record set in 2025, according to Space Force officials.
When could Vandenberg set a new rocket launch record in 2026?
The bigger headline, though, will be when the record-setting 72nd launch gets off the ground at Vandenberg.
As of now, that launch is scheduled for no earlier than Monday, Oct. 26. The mission will virtually mirror the most recent launch, with SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket once again lifting off and climbing into space on a southeast trajectory to deploy 27 more Starlink satellites.
A late-night launch window opens at 9:45 p.m. PT Oct. 26 and closes at 1:45 a.m. PT Tuesday, Oct. 27, according to SpaceX.
More rocket launches on the way in 2027
Even more rocket launches are on the horizon in Southern California, where Vandenberg – managed by Space Launch Delta 30, a unit of Space Force – plans to expand with more launch complexes.
SpaceX, which leases Space Launch Complex 4-East for a regular diet of Falcon 9 launches, willsoon be taking over management of the refurbished Space Launch Complex-6 – a historic facility first used in 1966. The site is outfitted to accommodate SpaceX's larger Falcon Heavy rocket that has never launched from California.
Companies like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, will also be moving into Vandenberg in the years ahead.
Blue Origin has plans to launch its towering 320-foot New Glenn rocket at the new Space Launch-14 at the southernmost point tip of the base. The ULA, meanwhile, is planning for the West Coast debut of its Vulcan rocket at Space Launch Complex-3 East, which – with four solid rocket boosters mounted to the side – puts on quite a show when it lifts off.
The Space Force also recently announced it is seeking applications from aerospace companies interested in leasing a new launch site, Space Launch Complex-9, located in the northern region of the base for small- and medium-class rockets.
Virginia-based Northrrop Grumman and Texas-based Firefly Aersopace, which announced Aug. 11 that it reached a deal with Lockheed Martin to continue launching its small-lift Alpha rocket through 2031, also have operations at Vandenberg.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: SpaceX helps California tie rocket launch record. Next one coming up
