Archive: Ian Hawkes / U.S. Space Force
SpaceX launched the USSF-432 mission from California Friday evening and confirmed its Falcon 9 first stage landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX announced liftoff at 7:49 p.m. Eastern and the landing at 7:59 p.m.
The rocket took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX posted the liftoff and the landing on X.
A booster flying for the eighth time
Before the launch, SpaceX said this was the eighth flight for the first stage, which earlier flew a GPS III-8 mission and six Starlink missions, according to its mission page. A first stage is the rocket’s bottom section. Landing it on a ship lets SpaceX use it again.
Sonic booms were possible in California
SpaceX had said residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties might hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, depending on weather and other conditions.
In plain words: SpaceX sent a rocket up from California on Friday night, and the lower part of the rocket came back down and landed on a ship in the ocean so it can fly again.
JBizNews Desk | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.
