SpaceX successfully launched 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Tuesday, February 18, marking another milestone in its reusable rocket program.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 6:21 p.m. ET, carrying the latest batch of Starlink satellites to expand SpaceX’s global internet network.
What made this mission particularly significant was the first-ever droneship landing off the coast of the Bahamas. After stage separation, the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster touched down on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, marking its 16th successful flight.
This booster had previously supported high-profile missions, including Ax-2, Ax-3, Euclid, and multiple Starlink launches.
Landing in the Bahamas is a game-changer for SpaceX. It allows the company to recover boosters closer to key launch trajectories, especially for high-energy missions to geostationary orbit or deep space. In the image above, shared by SpaceX on Wednesday afternoon, we see the droneship in the beautiful blue waters of the Bahamas.
This reduces the distance and fuel needed for droneship recovery, cutting operational costs and speeding up rocket turnaround times. With this new landing option, SpaceX can launch more frequently and efficiently, further reinforcing its industry-leading rapid reusability model.
Check out the launch replay below:
Watch Falcon 9 launch 23 @Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida https://t.co/pgmE6zoiNr
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 14, 2025
