SpaceX successfully launched 22 Starlink internet satellites into orbit and brought the rocket back for a controlled landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink spacecraft took off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:21 p.m. EDT on August 31. The rocket’s first stage landed on the SpaceX drone ship named A Shortfall of Gravitas about 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
This particular booster, according to SpaceX, has been launched and landed seven times, contributing to the company’s efforts to reuse rockets. The record for the most flights by a Falcon 9 first stage is currently 16, held by two different boosters.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage continued its journey after the successful landing. Its mission is to deploy the 22 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), which is expected to occur approximately 65 minutes after liftoff.
This Starlink launch was meant to follow another Falcon 9 launch earlier in the day. The morning launch was scheduled to carry 13 satellites for the U.S. Space Force but was scrubbed due to an undisclosed issue. SpaceX has rescheduled the Space Force liftoff for Friday, September 1, at 11:26 a.m. EDT.
The Starlink satellite constellation aims to provide global broadband coverage from space. SpaceX has launched more than 1,700 Starlink satellites to date and plans to continue expanding its network. The company has already started offering beta services to select customers in certain areas.
As SpaceX continues its ambitious launch schedule, it emphasizes the importance of reusing rockets to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. The successful landing of the Falcon 9 booster marks another milestone in the company’s pursuit of more sustainable space transportation.