On December 14, SpaceX successfully returned the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket to Earth, marking the 550th successful landing in its history. This achievement comes almost 10 years after the first successful landing of a Falcon 9 stage, which took place on December 21, 2015. The launch vehicle lifted off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, delivering another batch of 27 Starlink satellites to orbit.
The rocket’s first stage, designated B1093, completed its ninth flight into space. After separating from the second stage, it ignited one of its nine Merlin engines and deployed four landing legs, making a soft touchdown on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.
The Falcon 9’s second stage successfully deployed the Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit approximately an hour after liftoff. These 27 satellites (group 15-12) have increased the total active Starlink constellation to over 9,300 units out of more than 10,000 launched since 2019. The Starlink system provides broadband internet access to various regions around the world, as well as offering Wi-Fi services on airlines and satellite communication access for some mobile network operators.
This launch marked the 162nd flight of a Falcon 9 in 2025 and the 580th overall for SpaceX. SpaceX’s commitment to reusability has dramatically reduced the cost of space access, leading to the company’s dominant role in the commercial space sector. With competitors still trying to catch up, SpaceX frequently updates and improves its technologies, ensuring a vital role in the future of space exploration and satellite internet infrastructure.
