Watch SpaceX launch its 100th mission of the year tonight

SpaceX is set to achieve a significant milestone tonight as it prepares to launch its 100th mission of the year from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. The Falcon 9 rocket, which will be the 97th of its kind for the year, will join SpaceX's total count to 100 missions for 2026. This launch will be the company's third century in a row.

The mission, which will launch 24 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit, is scheduled to take off between 10 p.m. EDT and 12 a.m. EDT. Live coverage of the event will be available on SpaceX's website approximately 10 minutes before liftoff. Following the deployment of the satellites 61.5 minutes later, the rocket's first stage will return to Earth about 8.5 minutes into the flight, aiming to land on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.

This will be the 12th mission for the particular booster, designated B1097, which has already participated in milestone flights such as the 600th orbital rocket landing.

Throughout 2026, SpaceX has prioritized Starlink satellite deployments, with 73 launches devoted to expanding the Starlink megaconstellation, currently numbering nearly 11,000 operational satellites. In addition to tonight's Falcon 9 launch, SpaceX has conducted one Falcon Heavy and two Starship launches this year. The company aims to surpass 1,000 launches annually in the future, with Starship taking on a leading role as it phases out the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.