SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites to orbit on its 35th flight

On September 2nd, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully initiated its 35th orbital launch mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The primary objective of this flight was to deploy 27 new Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This marked a significant milestone for the Falcon 9’s initial stage, representing its third decade of operational service. Following separation, the expended upper stage booster is scheduled to return to land on the Just Read the Instructions (JRI) drone ship located in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX anticipates completing the recovery and refurbishment process before initiating another launch endeavor.