At 11:58 p.m. EDT on July 9, a Falcon 9 rocket soared into the sky from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This successful liftoff marked the 16th time the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster had been used, a remarkable achievement for SpaceX. On board were 22 Starlink satellites destined for low-Earth orbit (LEO).

Following its ascent, the booster descended back to Earth for its 16th landing, gracefully touching down on the deck of the SpaceX droneship named “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean.

Approximately 8.5 minutes had elapsed since liftoff when the booster made its return, Space .com has reported.

Meanwhile, the expendable upper stage of the Falcon 9 continued its journey, carrying the 22 Starlink satellites further into space.

These satellites are scheduled to be deployed in LEO approximately 62 minutes after the launch.

Written by staff