CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX successfully launched an advanced GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force today (Thursday June 17), marking the 19th launch of the year here on the Space Coast.
The next two GPS missions, which are already scheduled to fly on SpaceX rockets sometime next year, will now launch atop refurbished rockets. All of this is great news for SpaceX, as the company has been relying heavily on its fleet of veteran rockets, with many Falcon 9 first stages having racked up five or more flights each.
Out of 19 missions so far this year, only one has featured a brand new Falcon 9; the rest were on flight-proven boosters. It's also great news for Space Force and taxpayers as flying on reused rockets translates to a savings of nearly $53 million across the two flights (GPS III-SV05 and GPS III-SV06), Space Force officials said. - SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force, sticks rocket landing at sea | Space
How does SpaceX recover boosters with such amazing accuracy?
1. Experience
2. Amazingly engineered rockets
After retrieving the rocket an inspection and refueling may be all that needed for yet another reusable launch. Amazing feat without a parachute! The first stage is designed to be recovered after taking the rocket through the maxQ, after that the second stage is too high and traveling too fast.
The next two GPS missions, which are already scheduled to fly on SpaceX rockets sometime next year, will now launch atop refurbished rockets. All of this is great news for SpaceX, as the company has been relying heavily on its fleet of veteran rockets, with many Falcon 9 first stages having racked up five or more flights each.
Out of 19 missions so far this year, only one has featured a brand new Falcon 9; the rest were on flight-proven boosters. It's also great news for Space Force and taxpayers as flying on reused rockets translates to a savings of nearly $53 million across the two flights (GPS III-SV05 and GPS III-SV06), Space Force officials said. - SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force, sticks rocket landing at sea | Space
How does SpaceX recover boosters with such amazing accuracy?
1. Experience
2. Amazingly engineered rockets
After retrieving the rocket an inspection and refueling may be all that needed for yet another reusable launch. Amazing feat without a parachute! The first stage is designed to be recovered after taking the rocket through the maxQ, after that the second stage is too high and traveling too fast.
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