SpaceX Successfully Launches Starlink Satellites and Achieves Rocket Landing at Sea

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX achieved another major milestone on Tuesday night as it launched 22 of its Starlink internet satellites into orbit, and successfully brought back its Falcon 9 rocket for a controlled landing at sea.

The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Starlink spacecraft, took off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:21 p.m. EDT (0221 GMT on Sept. 1), as reported by SpaceX. The first stage of the Falcon 9 returned to Earth as planned, touching down on SpaceX’s drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, around 8.5 minutes after liftoff.

This particular Falcon 9 rocket used for the mission had already undergone six successful launches and landings, making it the seventh time it was reused. SpaceX holds the record for the most flights with a reused rocket, with one of their Falcon 9 boosters completing 16 flights in total.

The upper stage of the Falcon 9 will continue its journey, with plans to deploy the 22 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) approximately 65 minutes after liftoff.

However, this launch was originally scheduled as part of a SpaceX doubleheader, which also involved the launch of 13 satellites for the U.S. Space Force on the same day. Unfortunately, the planned morning launch was postponed due to an undisclosed issue. SpaceX is now targeting Friday at 11:26 a.m. EDT (1526 GMT) for the Space Force liftoff.

SpaceX’s relentless pursuit of reusability plays a crucial role in reducing the cost of space missions. By landing rockets for refurbishment and reuse, the company has successfully disrupted the traditional space industry. The ability to land and reuse rockets also brings us one step closer to achieving a more sustainable and efficient space exploration system.

The successful launch and landing of the Falcon 9 rocket not only moves us closer to a fully operational Starlink constellation that will provide global internet coverage but also highlights the significant progress SpaceX has made in the field of rocket reusability. As SpaceX continues to push boundaries and set new records, the future of space exploration looks more promising and exciting than ever.