Launches from opposite coasts
On July 13 and 14, 2026, the space company SpaceX carried out two separate launch operations within an eight-hour window, with the rockets lifting off from opposite shores of the United States. Both flights were dedicated to deploying satellites belonging to the Starlink network into orbit.
Reuse milestone achieved
The later of the two missions represented a notable step in reusable launch vehicle operations: a previously flown first stage was used for the 600th time in an orbital launch. The accomplishment highlights the maturity of the firm's approach to recovering and reflying booster stages.
- Launch period: July 13–14, 2026
- Interval between flights: roughly eight hours
- Launch sites: opposite US coasts
- Payload: Starlink satellites
- Milestone: 600th reused booster flight
Both missions proceeded according to published schedules. By repeatedly returning and reusing booster stages, SpaceX aims to lower the cost of reaching space and to expand overall launch throughput.