SpaceX recently conducted two separate Starlink satellite deployment missions from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, adding 58 satellites to its constellation. One mission, identified as Starlink Group 6-88, occurred on January 4, 2026, and facilitated the expansion of Starlink broadband internet service to Venezuela. A subsequent mission, Starlink 6-98, launched on January 7, 2026, setting a new record for the fastest turnaround between Falcon 9 launches from the same pad at Cape Canaveral.
Starlink Group 6-88 Launch and Venezuela Service Expansion
On January 4, 2026, at 1:48 a.m. EST (0648 GMT), SpaceX launched 29 Starlink Group 6-88 satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit approximately one hour after liftoff.
The first stage of the Falcon 9 booster, identified as Booster 1101, completed its inaugural flight and landing. It returned to Earth and landed on the drone ship "Just Read the Instructions," positioned in the Atlantic Ocean.
Following this launch, Starlink announced the extension of its broadband internet service to Venezuela. The company is offering free service to Venezuela through February 3, 2026. The Starlink network currently comprises nearly 9,500 active satellites, aiming to provide global internet access, particularly in underserved regions. This mission marked SpaceX's second launch of 2026, its 595th completed mission since 2008, and its 555th successful booster landing since 2015.
Starlink 6-98 Launch and New Turnaround Record
A second Starlink mission, designated Starlink 6-98, launched on January 7, 2026, at 1:08 p.m. EST (1808 UTC) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission deployed an additional 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into low Earth orbit.
The launch of Starlink 6-98 established a new turnaround record for Falcon 9 rockets at Cape Canaveral, occurring 45 hours after the Starlink 6-97 mission had launched from the same pad on January 5, 2026, at 4:08 p.m. EST. This record surpassed the previous mark of 50 hours and 44 minutes, which was set in December 2025.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster 1085, used for the Starlink 6-98 mission, completed its 13th flight. Previous missions supported by Booster 1085 include Crew-9, Blue Ghost Mission 1, and Fram 2. Approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster 1085 landed on the SpaceX drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ This marked the 139th landing on that specific vessel and SpaceX’s 559th booster landing overall.
SpaceX Vice President of Launch, Kiko Dontchev, noted the ongoing improvements in operational speed, efficiency, safety, and reliability. This launch represented SpaceX’s fourth Starlink mission and sixth Falcon 9 rocket launch of 2026.