WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force announced Jan. 9 it awarded SpaceX nine national security space launch missions worth $739 million, issuing task orders under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program.

Starlink is separately planning to launch yet another 15,000 satellites that are designed for mobile service. SpaceX asked the FCC to approve this plan in September 2025, saying the “new system will offer a new generation of MSS connectivity, supporting voice, texting, and high-speed data.”

The FCC's partial grant lets SpaceX operate 7,500 more satellites, for a total of over 19,000 in Earth's orbit, and use even more radio bands at higher power limits.

Shotwell has an expansive role at the rocket and satellite company, helping to foster its rise. With an IPO looming, the toughest stretch may still lie ahead.

The Federal Communications Commission said on Friday it has approved SpaceX's request to deploy another 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites as it works to boost internet service worldwide.

SpaceX knocked out Friday the first of a series of afternoon launches in the coming week with another Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral.

For just the second time in 2026, a SpaceX rocket is due to blast off from Southern California. Here's how to watch a livestream of the launch.

Live updates from SpaceX's Friday afternoon Starlink 6-96 mission that launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Former SpaceX propulsion CTO Thomas Mueller’s space startup reached unicorn status this year thanks to $525 million in funding since 2021. It’s just one of 141 other startups founded by SpaceX alumni.

Concerns from rivals like Viasat and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin range from radio interference and orbital dominance to potentially harming the Earth's atmosphere.

The number of orbital launch attempts worldwide last year surpassed the record 2024 flight rate by 25 percent, with SpaceX and China accounting for the bulk of the launch activity, Aviation Week & Space Technology reports.