On the night of December 14, 2025, SpaceX once again made history by successfully returning the Falcon 9’s first stage to Earth after launching another batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. The liftoff took place from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. At 12:49 a.m. Eastern Time (05:49 GMT, 9:49 p.m. local time on December 13), the rocket soared skyward, carrying 27 new satellites for the global internet network.
Minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage, designated B1093, performed a landing burn and touched down gently on the autonomous drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This marked the ninth flight for this particular booster, highlighting the efficiency and reliability of SpaceX’s reusable technology.
Unlike Falcon 9’s very first recovery in December 2015, when the booster landed onshore, this latest landing once again took place on an ocean platform. This approach enables SpaceX to launch rockets from various facilities and recover them even under challenging weather conditions or trajectory constraints.
Record-setting achievements
With this launch, Falcon 9’s total number of successful landings reached an impressive milestone—550. Nearly a decade after the first landing, SpaceX has not only perfected booster recovery but has scaled it to an industrial level. In 2025, the company completed its 162nd Falcon 9 launch, bringing the rocket’s total missions to over 580.
Each new landing is not just a technical achievement, but a significant contribution to reducing the cost of space launches. The reuse of rocket stages allows SpaceX to launch satellites more frequently and at lower cost than ever before, changing the rules of the game in the global space services market.
Starlink Expansion
During the latest mission, 27 Starlink Group 15-12 satellites were launched into orbit. Now, the active part of the Starlink megaconstellation comprises more than 9,300 satellites out of over 10,000 launched since 2019. This network provides high-speed internet access to the most remote corners of the planet, and also supports in-flight Wi-Fi on airliners and connectivity between mobile devices and satellites for some operators.
Starlink continues to expand its presence, offering services not only to private users but also to companies, government agencies, and even military departments. With constant replenishment of the satellite constellation, the network is becoming more resilient and reliable.
Technology and the Future
Every Falcon 9 launch is not only another step toward developing a global internet, but also a demonstration of the potential of modern rocket technology. SpaceX is actively developing new solutions, enhancing control and landing systems, and testing innovative materials and components.
In the coming years, the company plans to increase its launch frequency, expand the Starlink network, and embark on even more ambitious projects, including crewed missions and interplanetary flights. SpaceX is already setting the pace for the entire industry, and its achievements are inspiring engineers and scientists around the world.
If you didn’t know, SpaceX is a private aerospace company founded by Elon Musk in 2002. It became the first organization in the world to land an orbital rocket’s first stage and reuse it. In addition to the Starlink program, SpaceX is developing the heavy-lift Starship rocket and conducts commercial and government launches for clients worldwide. The company is known for its innovative approach and its mission to make space more accessible to humanity.