SpaceX launched a Starlink mission earlier this week that set a new record for reusable spacecraft. The Falcon 9 booster that was used in the launch had already been to space four times, and this week’s launch was the fifth.
SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology is the cornerstone of its business. By landing rocket stages and using them over and over again, the company saves money and time in between launch attempts. Now, the company has set a new record that truly reveals how fast its hardware has matured, even when compared to the likes of NASA.
When SpaceX launched its latest Starlink mission earlier this week it did so using the Falcon 9 booster designated B1049. It was a by-the-numbers launch, all things considered, and the booster successfully propelled its payload into space before landing on a SpaceX drone ship. What makes it such a remarkable event is that it was the fifth time that same booster had been used, and it reached that milestone faster than any other similar spacecraft in history.
