SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches on record-tying 12th mission, Completes 150th mission
Updated: Apr 22, 2022
Today's mission lofted 53 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites
April 21, 2022/ A two-stage SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket "Booster; B1060-12" lifted off for a 12th time on Thursday at 1:51:40 p.m. EDT (17:51:40 UTC) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 53 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites to orbit.
It was the 12th liftoff for this particular Falcon 9 first stage which previously launched the GPS III-3, Turksat 5A, Transporter-2, and eight other Starlink missions, tying a SpaceX reuse record set just last month on a different Starlink launch using the Booster B1051. And it likely won't be this booster's last flight; about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, it came down for a safe landing on the SpaceX droneship - Marmac 303 "Just Read the Instructions' barge, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, Falcon 9 rocket completes it's 150th mission for SpaceX. The ship Bob departed in support of Starlink 4-14 must retrieve the shells from the rocket's payload fairing.
The Falcon 9's second stage, meanwhile, continued carrying the 53 Starlink satellites deployed to its Parking Orbit at T+59:49 minutes after liftoff.