SpaceX sets Falcon 9 rocket on record-tying 20th mission

SpaceX has equaled its previous record by utilizing a Falcon 9 booster for the 20th time during its most recent, which involved launching a European Union Galileo L12 navigation and positioning satellite

The Falcon 9 booster, which was utilized to push the European Union Galileo L12 satellite into medium-Earth orbit, accomplished its mission following a scheduled takeoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Saturday.

According to SpaceX, this Falcon 9 first stage had completed its 20th mission, which included launching over 200 spacecraft as part of the Rideshare program, supporting 13 Starlink Internet missions and sending a lunar lander to the Moon.

During Saturday’s launch, the Falcon 9 successfully delivered over 228 metric tons to Earth’s orbit and beyond.

Earlier this month, a different booster used to launch Starlink Internet satellites set a record for a Falcon 9: 20 flights.

During most Falcon 9 missions to low-Earth orbit, the boosters retain sufficient fuel after stage separation to facilitate a landing and recovery, with the ultimate goal of being reused in subsequent missions.

The Saturday Galileo launch was intended for medium-Earth Orbit.

However, the booster’s exhaustion rendered it unsuitable for subsequent missions.

Source: Newsroom