NEWS — SpaceX RSS

On January 15, 2026, the SpaceX Dragon reentry and splashdown off the coast of San Diego will conclude the early return of NASA’s Crew-11 astronauts from the ISS following a health-related mission adjustment. The event reflects the flexibility and reliability of Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Commercial Crew Program, highlighting responsive medical evacuation capabilities and advanced recovery procedures.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Twilight rideshare mission stood vertical at California’s Pad 4E before lifting off early in the morning to place around 40 satellites into a dusk-dawn sun-synchronous orbit. The mission, which included NASA’s Pandora exoplanet observatory and other small spacecraft, highlights SpaceX’s growing rideshare capability and continued commitment to affordable, versatile access to space.

In 2026, Starlink orbital reconfiguration for space safety will gradually lower the altitude of approximately 4,400 satellites from around 550 km to 480 km to enhance collision avoidance and hasten natural deorbiting of failed units. This approach reduces ballistic decay times by over eighty percent and places satellites in a less congested orbital band, significantly improving overall space safety. The maneuver, coordinated with regulators and U.S. Space Command, reflects Starlink’s commitment to long-term space sustainability in a crowded low Earth orbit environment.

In 2025, Starlink experienced a year of dramatic growth by connecting over 4.6 million new active customers, bringing its total subscriber base to more than 9.2 million worldwide. This milestone reflects expanded service in 35 new countries, increased demand in underserved regions, and the broader adoption of satellite broadband as a reliable alternative to traditional internet infrastructure. Starlink now serves users across more than 155 markets and continues to broaden its global connectivity footprint.

In 2025 SpaceX executed 165 Falcon rocket launches, a new annual record, and conducted five Starship flight tests, underscoring the company’s rapid operational cadence and commitment to advancing human space exploration. Falcon 9’s ongoing reuse and reliability enabled frequent orbital missions that supported Starlink constellation deployment and diverse commercial and government payloads, while Starship tests progressed toward the goal of interplanetary travel. These achievements highlight SpaceX’s pivotal role in expanding space infrastructure and edging closer to its vision of making life multiplanetary.