SpaceX launched a new Falcon 9 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission was carrying 23 Starlink satellites and deployed them to low-Earth orbit.
With a clear sky at midnight, SpaceX fired the first launch vehicle engines and began the liftoff. After separating from the second stage, the first stage performed boostback burns and landed on a droneship.
Liftoff of Falcon 9! pic.twitter.com/aMZKAFr897
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 13, 2024
This is a milestone for SpaceX as the booster has completed a record 20th flight and landing with this Falcon 9 mission.
Falcon 9 lands on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship – completing the first 20th launch and landing of a booster! pic.twitter.com/G0w4IlXzNP
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 13, 2024
It was in use since November 2020. The first-stage booster has been used to liftoff eight astronauts and more than 500 satellites into orbit. It has contributed a total of 261+ metric tons of mass to orbit within the last four years.
This booster in particular previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8, and 13 Starlink missions including the latest.