SpaceX sets new launch record with 2 Falcon 9 miss…
SpaceX has achieved a new launch turnaround milestone after sending two Falcon 9 rockets into orbit less than 40 minutes apart, carrying separate missions for Globalstar and the US Space Force.
The first Falcon 9 blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 9:12pm EDT on Saturday, deploying eight Globalstar satellites to reinforce the company’s low Earth orbit network. Its first-stage booster, designated B1090, completed its 14th mission before successfully returning to Landing Zone 40 roughly eight minutes after liftoff.
Just 38.5 minutes later, another Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying the classified USSF-366 mission for the US Space Force. Details about the spacecraft’s payload were not disclosed because of the mission’s national security classification.
The second rocket’s B1088 booster successfully landed on SpaceX’s droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean, marking the 650th successful Falcon booster landing and adding another milestone to the company’s rapidly expanding reusable-launch program.
The Globalstar launch had originally been planned for May 17 but was postponed to allow additional preparation time for the satellites. Globalstar CEO Paul E. Jacobs described the successful launch as an important step toward maintaining and strengthening the satellite infrastructure used by the company’s customers.
The latest mission also comes as Globalstar prepares for its planned acquisition by Amazon, a transaction expected to be completed in 2027. The deal is aimed at supporting Amazon Leo’s direct-to-device satellite connectivity services.
Globalstar recently announced that it would pause further earnings calls and updates to its forward-looking guidance while the proposed transaction remains under consideration.