Falcon 9 flies Starlink Group 15-18 from Vandenberg, extending California's record year
From the Space digest for Oct 31, 2026
What happened: Falcon 9 booster B1093-18 — the booster's 18th flight — launched 27 Starlink satellites, Starlink Group 15-18, from SLC-4E at Vandenberg. It is the third California Starlink flight in eight days, following October 23's Group 15-15 and October 27's Group 15-16, the mission that set California's record 72nd launch of 2026.
What's genuinely new: A confirmed launch — Group 15-18 flew, keeping the West Coast Starlink line running through the October stretch that reporting had flagged for flights beyond the state's 72-launch record, even as SpaceX winds down commercial Falcon 9 access.
Watch: the final 2026 Vandenberg launch count, and whether SpaceX's reported closure of new commercial Falcon 9 reservations — still without an official company notice — hardens into one.
Links: NASASpaceflight on X · Oct 31, 12:05 AM ET