Washington, D.C.: In a historic milestone, SpaceX successfully landed its Falcon 9 rocket near The Bahamas after launching 23 Starlink satellites into orbit. The mission, which took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on February 18 at 6:22 p.m. EST, marks the first-ever landing in the region and a step forward in expanding SpaceX’s operational scope.
New Agreement with The Bahamas
SpaceX’s latest success follows a recent agreement with The Bahamas, allowing new orbital trajectories. Traditionally, SpaceX stations its droneships in open waters, but this collaboration provides new launch and landing opportunities.
Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Isaac Chester Cooper, highlighted the importance of this milestone during SpaceX’s live stream. He emphasized that the landing in Exuma Sound strengthens The Bahamas’ role in the aerospace industry and opens doors for future technological growth.
Falcon 9’s Reusability Milestone
The Falcon 9 booster used in this mission, B1080, has now completed 16 successful flights. Out of these, nine were Starlink-related. SpaceX’s ability to reuse rockets multiple times significantly reduces costs, contributing to the company’s high launch frequency.
This achievement not only enhances SpaceX’s operational efficiency but also reinforces its commitment to advancing space technology. With more strategic partnerships and innovations, SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and satellite deployment.
