SpaceX relaunched the Falcon 9 rocket for the 20th time late Friday, April 12. It was carrying 23 of the company's Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
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
According to the company's website, the Falcon 9 first stage used for the flight was previously reflown 19 times, setting a new reusability mark.
The mission lifted off on the 43rd anniversary of the first launch of NASA's reusable spacecraft, the space shuttle - particularly Columbia - in 1981.
Space.com reported that the Falcon 9 first stage landed off the coast of Florida aboard the company's drone ship, A Shortfall of Gravitas.
Meanwhile, the Falcon 9's upper stage continued hauling the 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO). The spacecraft was set to be deployed there about over an hour after liftoff.
Watch Falcon 9 launch 23 @Starlink satellites to orbit https://t.co/Zexq5kDXbl
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 13, 2024
