SpaceX Breaks Rocket Reuse Record With Sixth Falcon 9 Flight
SpaceX successfully launches 58 Starlink internet satellites and three Planet SkySat Earth-observation satellites into orbit. The mission sets a new company record by flying the same Falcon 9 booster for the sixth time.
SpaceX successfully launches a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, carrying a payload of 58 Starlink internet satellites and three Earth-observation SkySat satellites for the company Planet. This mission marks the second Starlink launch for the month of August and serves as SpaceX's 14th overall mission in 2020.
The flight sets a new milestone in spaceflight history as the Falcon 9 booster flies for a record-breaking sixth time. Designated as B1049, this specific rocket previously supports the Telstar 18 VANTAGE and Iridium-8 missions, along with three earlier Starlink deployments. This launch also represents the 40th time SpaceX reuses a Falcon 9 booster.
Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster touches down smoothly on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Atlantic Ocean. This successful landing secures the rocket's status as the first six-time flier in SpaceX's growing fleet of reusable orbital-class rockets.