SpaceX has made headlines again with the successful launch of its Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-98 mission. This launch, which took place at 1:08 p.m. EST on January 14, 2026, set a new record for the fastest turnaround at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. They managed to launch just 45 hours after the previous Starlink 6-97 mission.
The previous record was 50 hours and 44 minutes, set in December 2025 during the NROL-77 and Starlink 6-90 launches. Kiko Dontchev, SpaceX’s Vice President of Launch, celebrated this achievement, emphasizing the company’s focus on efficiency and safety. He mentioned, “Physics is the only constraint. Everything else is just an engineering challenge waiting to be solved.”
The latest mission deployed 29 new Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into low Earth orbit. This marks SpaceX’s sixth Falcon 9 launch and fourth Starlink mission of 2026. Each launch adds to the growing constellation that aims to provide global internet coverage, especially in remote areas.
A key note: the Falcon 9 first stage booster used for this mission, with tail number 1085, was on its 13th flight. After its mission, it successfully landed on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ contributing to SpaceX’s impressive record of 559 booster landings.
As the space industry evolves, the rapid pace of these launches highlights a shift toward more frequent and efficient space travel. According to a recent industry report, the demand for satellite internet services is expected to rise by 25% over the next five years, driven by the increasing need for reliable connections worldwide.
SpaceX continues to push boundaries, and with each launch, it redefines what’s possible in space travel.
For more on SpaceX’s advancements and its impact on satellite technology, you can explore SpaceX’s official site.
