SpaceX Sets Launch Cadence Record With Falcon 9 Liftoffs 38.5 Minutes Apart
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16.08.2026 16:21
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1 min read
SpaceX set a new record for the shortest time between two orbital launches, sending two Falcon 9 rockets into space from opposite US coasts just 38.5 minutes apart. Both first stages returned safely to Earth, with the second landing marking a milestone—the 650th in the company’s history.
According to Spaceflight Now, the first launch took place from a Florida spaceport, deploying a batch of eight Globalstar communications satellites into Earth orbit. Just 38.5 minutes later, a second Falcon 9 lifted off from a California pad carrying the classified USSF-366 mission for the US Space Force.
Both reusable boosters landed successfully on autonomous drone ships. According to statistics on the official SpaceX website, this marks the company’s 650th successful recovery of a Falcon family first stage over the course of its operations.
Investment Context
The launch frequency record coincides with new financial details regarding investments in Elon Musk’s space venture. As reported by Reuters, Alphabet’s (Google) stake in SpaceX, purchased in 2015 for $900 million, has increased in value more than 100-fold, with its current valuation estimated at roughly $94 billion.
