--- title: "SpaceX sets new record: two Falcon 9 rockets launch 38 minutes apart" description: "🚀 SpaceX sets a new record: two Falcon 9 rockets launch with an interval of just 38 minutes! One launch took place in Florida for Globalstar, the second was a classified mission USSF-366 in California. This is the company's 96th launch in 2026. 🌍🛰️ #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Space" date: 2026-08-16T20:43:39.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/spacex-sets-new-record-two-falcon-9-rockets-launch-38-minutes-apart tags: [spacex, falcon-9, space-industry, globalstar, ussf-366, starshield] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # SpaceX sets new record: two Falcon 9 rockets launch 38 minutes apart ![SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching at night, illustrating the record-breaking launch of two rockets within 38 minutes](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/16/spacex-rekord-dve-rakety-falcon-9-38-minut/spacex-rekord-dve-rakety-falcon-9-38-minut-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets with an interval of 38 minutes, beating the previous record. - The first launch delivered Globalstar satellites, the second was the classified USSF-366 mission. - Both launch vehicles successfully returned to Earth, landing on land and on a sea platform respectively. - In total, SpaceX conducted 96 Falcon 9 launches in 2026. On the night of August 16, 2026, the private aerospace company SpaceX demonstrated unprecedented operational efficiency. Within a single hour, with an interval of just 38 minutes, two successful launches of Falcon 9 launch vehicles were carried out from opposite ends of the United States. This event not only marked a new historical record in spaceflight but also confirmed the company's leadership in the field of frequent orbital launches. ### Double launch: a record of speed and logistics The first launch took place on Saturday, August 15, at 21:12 Eastern Daylight Time (4:12 MSK on August 16) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket successfully delivered eight satellites for the telecommunications company Globalstar to low Earth orbit (LEO). The mission, named Globalstar 2-2 Launch 1, became an important stage in the renewal of the communications satellite constellation. Just 8 minutes after liftoff, the rocket's first stage performed a soft landing on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, marking its 14th flight in its career. The second launch was carried out just 38 minutes and 40 seconds after the first — at 21:50 EDT (4:50 MSK) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This launch was executed as part of a classified mission codenamed USSF-366. The first stage of this rocket, which had already completed 18 flights, successfully landed on the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean. ### Classified mission USSF-366 and the Starshield platform Details of the second mission, USSF-366, remain classified, however, industry experts make well-founded assumptions regarding its objectives. According to NextSpaceflight.com, an analysis of the flight trajectory and stage separation points indicates that the rocket may have delivered a batch of classified satellites for a US government agency. These spacecraft are likely based on the Starshield satellite platform, a specialized division of SpaceX dedicated to fulfilling government and military contracts. The coincidence of mission parameters with previous Starlink Group 15 launches only strengthens this theory. ### Scale of SpaceX operations in 2026 These two launches were the 95th and 96th Falcon 9 flights of the current year, 2026. The statistics demonstrate the impressive intensity of the company's work: the vast majority of missions — about 75% — are dedicated to deploying the Starlink satellite constellation. The ability to conduct such frequent launches using reusable launch vehicles drastically reduces the cost of access to space and changes the paradigm of the space industry. ### Historical context of the record The previous record for the minimum interval between launches was set by SpaceX on August 31, 2024, when the difference between launches was 65 minutes. The new record of 38 minutes reduced this interval by almost half, which testifies to significant progress in rocket preparation, servicing, and launch procedures. Such a pace of work requires the highest level of coordination between teams at two remote spaceports and flawless operation of engineering systems. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [SpaceX sets new record with dual Falcon 9 launches in 38.5 minutes](https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/spacex-sets-new-record-with-dual-falcon-9-launches-in-38-5-minutes/ar-AA2adDys) - Подтверждает интервал в 38-38.5 минут и факт двух запусков. - [New record! SpaceX launches 2 Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technology/new-record-spacex-launches-2-falcon-9-rockets-just-38-minutes-apart/ar-AA2adseG) - Подтверждает интервал в 38-38.5 минут и факт двух запусков. - [SpaceX lifts off two Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart in NEW record](https://jang.com.pk/en/71190-spacex-lifts-off-two-falcon-9-rockets-just-38-minutes-apart-in-new-record-news) - Подтверждено по источнику jang.com.pk - [SpaceX makes history with two Falcon 9 launches 38 minutes apart: What we know](https://jang.com.pk/en/71174-spacex-makes-history-with-two-falcon-9-launches-38-minutes-apart-what-we-know-news) - Подтверждено по источнику jang.com.pk ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What was the interval between the launches? **A:** The interval was just 38 minutes. ### Q: How many launches did SpaceX conduct in total in 2026? **A:** Including the Saturday missions, the total number reached 96 launches. ### Q: What was the objective of the classified mission USSF-366? **A:** The exact objective is classified, but it is likely the launch of satellites based on the Starshield platform for government needs.