SpaceX Executes Second Falcon 9 Booster Landing in The Bahamas During Starlink Mission

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket on February 19, 2026, marking the company’s second booster landing in the territorial waters of The Bahamas. The mission deployed 29 Starlink satellites, further expanding the company’s global broadband constellation.

Liftoff of the Starlink 10-36 mission occurred at 8:41:40 p.m. EST (0141:40 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Weather conditions were highly favorable, with the 45th Weather Squadron forecasting greater than a 95 percent probability of acceptable launch conditions. Meteorologists reported no significant weather constraints during the launch window.

The flight utilized Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1077, which completed its 26th mission. The booster previously supported several high-profile flights, including NASA’s Crew-5 astronaut mission, the CRS-28 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, and Northrop Grumman’s NG-20 cargo launch.

Approximately eight and a half minutes after liftoff, B1077 executed a precise landing aboard the autonomous droneship Just Read the Instructions, positioned off the coast of Exuma. The milestone represented the 150th landing on that particular vessel and the 573rd booster recovery overall for SpaceX, underscoring the company’s continued leadership in reusable rocket technology.

This achievement comes nearly one year after SpaceX conducted its first booster landing within Bahamian waters during the Starlink 10-12 mission on February 18, 2025. That earlier landing marked a significant expansion of the company’s recovery operations into new geographic regions.

In advance of the 2025 mission, SpaceX indicated that operations in the region would help enable future crewed missions to polar orbit. The company later accomplished that objective with the Fram2 mission. However, Fram2 did not feature a booster landing near The Bahamas.

Reportedly, environmental concerns arose within the Bahamian government following in-flight breakups of SpaceX’s Starship rocket during test Flights 7 and 8 in 2025. Those incidents prompted discussions between SpaceX and Bahamian officials regarding safety and environmental safeguards associated with recovery operations near the island nation.

Over the past year, the two parties worked to address these concerns and establish a mutual understanding, ultimately clearing the way for this second Falcon 9 landing near The Bahamas. The successful recovery demonstrates both the technical reliability of the Falcon 9 system and the strengthening cooperation between SpaceX and regional authorities.

The Starlink 10-36 mission continues the rapid deployment of satellites supporting SpaceX’s Starlink internet service, which aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity worldwide. With another successful launch and landing completed, SpaceX further solidified its record of operational efficiency and reusability, advancing both its commercial satellite network and broader ambitions in space transportation.