SpaceX Pushes Falcon 9 Reusability to New Limits in Historic Starlink Mission
[UPDATE: Launch rescheduled to Tuesday due to unfavorable recovery zone weather conditions.]
SpaceX is preparing for a landmark Falcon 9 launch on Monday at 9:34 p.m. EST (6:34 p.m. PST), marking the company’s sixteenth Starlink satellite deployment. This mission will deliver 60 next-generation broadband satellites to low-Earth orbit, expanding SpaceX’s growing constellation for global internet coverage.
Breaking Reusability Barriers
This launch represents a significant milestone in rocket reusability:
- Booster Flight #7: The first-stage booster will attempt its seventh flight, setting a new operational record
- Historic Flight Log: Previously launched in August 2020, June 2020, January 2020, May 2019, January 2019, and September 2018
- Fairing Reuse: The payload fairing includes one half flown on a prior mission and another half with two previous flights
Advancing Global Connectivity
The mission supports SpaceX’s ambitious Starlink initiative to deliver:
- High-speed broadband internet
- Low-latency connectivity
- Affordable service for remote areas worldwide
With nearly 900 satellites already deployed, SpaceX recently expanded its “Better Than Nothing” beta program to Canada, following successful U.S. testing.
How to Watch the Launch
SpaceX will begin live streaming approximately 15 minutes before liftoff (around 9:19 p.m. EST/6:19 p.m. PST). This event offers a rare opportunity to witness aerospace history as SpaceX continues redefining space technology economics through unprecedented rocket reuse.
For more details on Starlink’s development, see our previous coverage of SpaceX’s beta program rollout.
