SpaceX Achieves 400th Falcon 9 Launch with Dual Missions, Successful Landings, Deploys Starlink and NROL-126

Nov 30, 2024, 05:02 AM

SpaceX successfully launched two Falcon 9 rockets in back-to-back missions from Florida and California early on November 30. The first Falcon 9 lifted off at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 40, carrying 24 Starlink satellites for the Starlink Group 6-65 mission. After deploying the satellites into orbit, the rocket's first stage booster returned and landed on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions' in the Atlantic Ocean. Hours later, at 12:10 a.m. Pacific Time (3:10 a.m. Eastern Time), a second Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base's Space Launch Complex 4E. The mission, designated NROL-126, was for the National Reconnaissance Office and also carried 20 Starlink satellites. The rocket's first stage booster landed on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX began its webcast of this mission after liftoff. The satellites were successfully deployed into orbit. These launches mark significant milestones for SpaceX, bringing the total number of Falcon 9 launches to 400. The NROL-126 mission is part of the NRO's expanding proliferated architecture and may involve SpaceX's Starshield satellites.