SpaceX confirmed the successful landing of its rocket booster on an unmanned maritime platform on the morning of Tuesday, July 9, after carrying out a launch that marked a new record for the company. Landing confirmation occurred at 5:58 am Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), or 9:58 am in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
The historic feat of 600 flights of a Falcon rocket, already proven, was achieved with the launch of the Starlink 10-45 mission. The operation was carried out from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the same Tuesday morning. Furthermore, the venture represented the 28th flight for the specific propellant, identified by the tail number 1080, demonstrating the robustness and reuse capacity of the SpaceX fleet.
Even before sunrise, the mission added 29 new broadband internet satellites to SpaceX’s growing low-orbit constellation. Currently, the company maintains a vast network of more than 10,800 spacecraft circling the Earth, a number that highlights the unprecedented scale of its Starlink project and the viability of its frequent launch model.
Liftoff, from Space Launch Complex 40, was promptly at 5:10 am EDT (9:10 am UTC). The rocket began its ascent following a precise trajectory in the northeast direction, shortly after moving away from the platform.
Weather conditions monitored during takeoff
The 45th Meteorology Squadron team had projected a high probability of favorable weather conditions, estimated at 90% at the beginning of the launch window, and which could reach 95% later. However, experts closely monitored the remote possibility of the rocket passing through dense clouds, a scenario that could result in the formation of lightning.
“Some dense clouds remaining from overnight convection may be present at the beginning of the launch window, but should gradually dissipate over this period,” meteorologists in charge of the mission said in a note. They added that, “as a result, we have slightly raised the point of observation (POV) at the start of tonight’s launch window, but overall good weather is expected.”
The flight history of the B1080 booster and recovery in the Atlantic
To launch the Starlink 10-45 mission, SpaceX used the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, identified as B1080. This was its 28th trip to space, a remarkable feat for a booster that has already been crucial in important missions, including two crewed flights for Axiom Space, the placement of the European Space Agency’s Euclid observatory into orbit and the launch of Northrop Grumman’s NG-21.
In about 8.5 minutes after takeoff, the B1080 booster performed a precise landing on the autonomous sea platform “A Shortfall of Gravitas”, which was strategically positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. This event marked the 161st successful landing on the said vessel and the impressive total of 638 rocket booster landings achieved by the company to date.
