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SpaceX Achieves Milestone in Reusable Rocket Technology

James L. Flint

• December 23, 2023

SpaceX, the pioneering space company led by Elon Musk, reached a significant milestone in its reusable rocket technology over the weekend. In the early hours of Saturday, the company successfully launched 23 Starlink satellites into low earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The launch took place amidst cloudy skies as the satellites soared atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, illuminating the night sky along a section of the Florida coast. Following the launch, the first stage booster of the rocket made a remarkable landing on a droneship floating in the Atlantic Ocean. This is the 19th time the booster has been successfully landed, making it a true accomplishment for SpaceX and a first for the company.

The booster has a storied history, having been used in 13 previous Starlink launches, as well as missions such as Crew Demo-2, ANASIS-11, CRS-21, Transporter-1, and Transporter-3.

SpaceX has been at the forefront of developing reusable rocket technology in its efforts to revolutionize the space industry and reduce the cost of space travel. This latest achievement adds to their impressive track record and solidifies their position as leaders in the field.

While there has been talk about a potential IPO spinoff for Starlink, Musk has reportedly dismissed the notion for now. Justus Parmar, CEO of Fortuna Investments, an advisory company focused on space investments, believes that a Starlink IPO is unlikely to take place.

In November, Musk revealed on Twitter that Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow and currently accounts for a majority of all active satellites. He further predicted that by next year, Starlink would have launched more satellites from Earth than any other entity.

The successful launch over the weekend is just one of many for SpaceX this year. With over 90 launches already completed in 2023, the private space company has ambitious plans to achieve an average of 12 launches per month in 2024. The future looks bright for SpaceX as they continue to push the boundaries of space exploration and technology.