SpaceX successfully launched and landed a Falcon 9 for the 20th time on Friday, April 12th, marking a new milestone for flight-proven rockets. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which broke its own turn-around record with just 2 days, 19 hours, and 42 minutes between launches.
According to a post on X from Space Launch Delta 45, the previous record was 3 days, 17 hours, and 24 minutes. The ability of SpaceX to turn the launch pads around this quickly is what will help them achieve their 144 launches in one-year goal, which they are currently on pace to meet.
When SpaceX began taking the first steps towards flight-proven rockets, many in the industry claimed it was unfeasible and too expensive. Fast-forward a few years, and SpaceX is leading the worldwide launch industry in mission cadence and payload mass sent to orbit.
Established companies that once frowned upon the concept are now developing rockets that are intended to land or return a portion of their first stages to fly again another day and are way behind in implementing this capability. The Falcon 9 that broke this record was Booster 1062 which last flew 28 days ago, successfully completing numerous missions.
B1062’s mission was Starlink Group 6-49, which, like other Group 6 missions, was sent to a 43-degree orbital inclination. B1062 made its 20th landing on the droneship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas, ‘ which was stationed just East of the Bahamas.
SpaceX has already returned B1062 to Port Canaveral and will begin its post-flight processing and, most likely, preparation for its 21st flight in the weeks ahead. The company is pushing the boundaries on its rockets and has other Falcons waiting for their next missions that have both flown 19 times already.
The success of their reusable rockets opens the possibility for many more flights in the future.