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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasts disconnected from Kennedy Space Center successful Florida astatine 8:34 p.m. EDT connected Saturday, carrying a European Union Galileo L12 navigation and positioning satellite. Photo courtesy SpaceX/X
April 28 (UPI) -- SpaceX has tied its ain grounds pinch nan 20th usage of a Falcon 9 booster pinch its latest and last mission, nan motorboat of a European Union Galileo L12 navigation and positioning satellite.
The booster powered a successful lift-off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center successful Florida arsenic scheduled astatine 8:34 p.m. EDT connected Saturday, sending nan outer into medium-Earth orbit.
It was nan 20th ngo for this Falcon 9 first shape aft launching much than 200 spacecraft arsenic portion of SpaceX's Rideshare program, supporting 13 Starlink Internet missions and sending a lunar lander to nan Moon, among its different accomplishments, according to SpaceX.
In total, nan Falcon 9 utilized successful Saturday's motorboat has delivered much than 228 metric tons to Earth orbit and beyond.
It was nan last ngo for nan booster, marking nan first clip a first-stage has been expended during a ngo since November 2022 -- immoderate 146 flights ago. The grounds of 20 flights for a Falcon 9 was set earlier this month by a different booster during a motorboat of immoderate Starlink Internet satellites.
On astir Falcon 9 missions to low-Earth Orbit, nan boosters clasp capable substance aft shape separation to powerfulness a landing and recovery, and yet reuse connected early missions. Saturday's Galileo launch, however, was to medium-Earth Orbit, meaning nan booster was expended connected its last mission.
The Galileo motorboat was nan first 2 planned play missions for SpaceX.
On Sunday, a Falcon 9 motorboat carrying 23 Starlink satellites is planned for a motorboat from Pad 40 astatine nan Cape Canaveral Space Force Station successful Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 5:50 p.m. EDT, pinch backup opportunities disposable until 9:50 p.m. If needed, further opportunities are besides disposable connected Monday starting astatine 5:25 p.m.
SpaceX launches its 3rd formation trial of its Starship rocket from Launch Complex 1 astatine Starbase successful Boca Chica, Texas, connected March 14, 2024. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
