> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://proximareport.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # SpaceX Performs Three Falcon Launches Within Thirteen Hours - URL: https://proximareport.com/articles/spacex-three-launches-thirteen-hours/ - Published: 2026-10-02T15:29:05.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-02T15:39:47.000Z - Author: Jack C. - Tags: SpaceX, Launches, Space Business, Aerospace On October 1st and 2nd, SpaceX conducted a trio of launches into orbit with its Falcon series of launch vehicles from both coasts of the United States, using all of the rockets' available launch pads, over the course of 12 hours and 44 minutes. The first of those started at 15:10 pm Universal Coordinated Time, when a Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida, [for Crew-13](https://proximareport.com/articles/falcon-9-crew-13/) to send NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, alongside Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk and cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, towards the International Space Station. Their launch was supported by Booster B1101, flying for the third time and touching down back at Landing Zone 40, next to where it departed a few minutes earlier. 7 hours and 55 minutes after leaving Earth, [Crew-13 arrived](https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/10/01/dragon-docks-bringing-spacex-crew-13-to-station/?ref=proximareport.com) at the International Space Station, docking at the Harmony module's forward-facing port. The four astronauts would [enter the station](https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/10/01/crew-13-members-enter-station-join-expedition-75/?ref=proximareport.com) about two hours afterwards, completing the fastest launch-to-arrival by a U.S. crewed spacecraft. Next, over at Space Launch Complex 4E in California, another Falcon 9 departed Earth at 18:32 pm for the [Transporter-18](https://www.spacex.com/launches/transporter18?ref=proximareport.com) sun-synchronous rideshare mission. Like the prior launch, the booster returned to touchdown near where it left, this time at Landing Zone 4 after B1082 performed its twenty-fifth flight. This Transporter rideshare saw 130 small satellites and spacecraft being released from Falcon 9's second-stage. [Some of note include](https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2026/10/01/the-first-mission-milestones-onboard-spacexs-transporter-18-rideshare-launch/?ref=proximareport.com) one from Planet Labs carrying a Google Tensor Processing Unit, in collaboration for the internet giant's space-based computing ambitions; Cowboy Space's Reason-1 to trial transferring energy from space to the ground; Starfish Space's first 'Otter' servicing spacecraft; and two reentry capsules from Varda Space. All onboard were released over the course of [fifteen](https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2105741134110785905?ref=proximareport.com) [minutes](https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2105744911001640966?ref=proximareport.com). Lastly, at 03:54 am on October 2nd, Falcon Heavy blasted off from Launch Complex 39A via the power of its twenty-seven Merlin-1D engines, heading for a high-altitude Earth orbit. Requiring the power available from the rocket was a classified spacecraft belonging to the U.S. [National Reconnaissance Office](https://www.spacex.com/launches/nrol97?ref=proximareport.com), a spy agency under the Department of Defense. Supporting the launch were three boosters: B1106 as the expendable center core for its first and only flight, B1104 for its second mission, and B1072 for its fourth flight. After supporting about two minutes of ascent, B1104 and B1072 turned around to touchdown at Landing Zone 1 and Landing Zone 2 respectively, resulting in a slightly staggered side-by-side return. That Falcon Heavy launch may have been the third and final of this year. In April, the triple booster rocket sent the [ViaSat-3 F3 'Asia-Pacific](https://proximareport.com/articles/falcon-heavy-viasat3-return/)' communications spacecraft towards geostationary space, followed by it throwing NASA's [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope](https://proximareport.com/articles/nasa-roman-telescope-falcon-heavy/) to the Earth-Sun L2 point in August. Whether a fourth mission occurs this year depends on if [Astrobotic's Griffin-1](https://www.nasa.gov/event/clps-flight-astrobotics-griffin-mission-one/?ref=proximareport.com) is ready. > Falcon Heavy’s side boosters land on LZ-1 and LZ-2 [pic.twitter.com/dBPcNeggFx](https://t.co/dBPcNeggFx?ref=proximareport.com) > > — SpaceX (@SpaceX) [October 2, 2026](https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2105871098218778969?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=proximareport.com)