SpaceX sets record with dual Falcon 9 launches in 38 minutes

SpaceX has set a new company record by completing two Falcon 9 orbital launches within just 38 minutes of each other. The dual launches were conducted from opposite coasts of the United States on August 15, 2026.

The first mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, deploying eight satellites for telecommunications firm Globalstar. These satellites, developed by MDA Space, are part of a replenishment constellation designed to support direct-to-device and emergency communication services. The first-stage booster for this mission successfully returned to Cape Canaveral for its 14th flight.

Approximately 38 minutes later, a second Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for the USSF-366 mission on behalf of the US Space Force. While the specific details of the payload remain classified, observers suggest it may involve military satellites utilizing the Starshield platform. The booster for this mission successfully landed on the autonomous droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific Ocean, marking its 18th flight.