Elon Musk and SpaceX hit reusable-rocket milestone with Starlink satellite launch

By James Rogers

The latest Starlink satellite launch lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Tuesday

Elon Musk's SpaceX hit a reusable-rocket milestone after the launch of 23 Starlink satellites atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on Tuesday.

The launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station marked the 300th time that SpaceX has landed a rocket booster after launch.

The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 6:17 pm Eastern. Following stage separation, the first-stage booster successfully landed on a droneship floating in the Atlantic Ocean.

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This was the ninth flight for the booster, which was previously used on five Starlink missions and NASA's Crew-6 mission that took four astronauts to the International Space Station in March 2023, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX has pioneered reusable-rocket technology in an attempt to lower costs and revolutionize the space industry.

This is a busy time for SpaceX. The company kicked off the year by sending its first Starlink direct-to-cell satellites into orbit, and plans to make 12 launches a month in 2024.

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Last month, SpaceX launched the third flight test of its giant Starship and Super Heavy rocket. Starship successfully achieved orbital insertion, coasted in space and re-entered Earth's atmosphere before SpaceX lost contact with the spacecraft as it broke apart. The company was not planning to recover either the Super Heavy Rocket or Starship.

-James Rogers

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04-23-24 1854ET

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