SpaceX Celebrates 450th Booster Landing During Starlink Mission
Vandenberg Space force Base – May 24, 2024 –
On Friday, SpaceX achieved its 450th successful booster landing, a landmark achievement in the space industry. The landing occurred after the launch of a Starlink mission, adding another 27 satellites to the ever-growing constellation. This booster landing demonstrates SpaceX’s commitment to reusable technology. For more details on this and other missions, stay tuned.
SpaceX Celebrates 450th Successful Booster Landing During Starlink Mission
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – SpaceX achieved a significant milestone Friday, successfully landing its Falcon 9 first stage booster for the 450th time. The landing occurred after the launch of another batch of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
Did You Know?
Reusable rocket technology, pioneered by SpaceX, dramatically reduces the cost of space travel by allowing boosters to be used multiple times.
the Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 3:32 p.m.PDT (6:32 p.m.EDT,2232 UTC).
Mission Details: Starlink 11-16
- Mission Name: Starlink 11-16
- Payload: 27 Starlink satellites
- Launch Time: 3:32 p.m. PDT (6:32 p.m. EDT, 2232 UTC)
- Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 4 East, Vandenberg Space Force Base
This mission, designated Starlink 11-16, added 27 satellites to the growing Starlink constellation. According to Jonathan McDowell, an expert orbital tracker, SpaceX has launched a total of 8,700 Starlink satellites into orbit, of which more than 7,500 remain in orbit.
Booster B1075: A Veteran of the Skies
SpaceX utilized Falcon 9 first stage booster B1075, a seasoned veteran with 18 flights under its belt. Its notable track record includes:
- Transporter-11 mission
- SARah-2 mission
- 14 Starlink satellite deployments
Successful Landing on ‘Of Course I Still Love You’
Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, B1075 successfully touched down on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You.
This landing not only marked the 450th successful booster landing for SpaceX but also represented the 131st landing for OCISLY and the 361st droneship landing overall.
Pro Tip
Droneships like ‘Of Course I Still Love you’ are autonomous platforms that provide a stable landing surface for returning boosters, enabling recovery in the open ocean.
