Record breaking flight: SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral Florida sees 25th booster flight

Update: Blue Origin's New Glenn has been delayed until no earlier than 1 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13.

After much delay, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took to the clear skies Friday afternoon on a record-breaking 25th flight − leaving many to wonder just how many flights a reusable Falcon 9 booster will eventually see.

Originally set to lift off in the morning, the launch of the Starlink 12-12 mission was pushed back towards the end of the allotted launch window. The rocket lifted off at 2:11 p.m. from Cape Canaveral, Space Launch Complex 40. Its payload: the latest batch of 21 Starlink internet satellites, including 13 with direct to cell capabilities.

SpaceX did not state the reason for the delay into the latter part of the window.

ADVERTISEMENT

A bit into the flight, the stages separated, and the first-stage booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship on the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of reusability, as that first-stage booster saw its 25th successful flight. Previous missions include: 13 other Starlink launches, CRS-22, CRS-25, NASA's Crew-3, NASA's Crew-4, TelkomSat-113BT, Turksat-5B, Koreasat-6A, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F2, Galileo L13, mPOWER-A, and PSN MFS.

How many refights a Falcon 9 first-stage will be able to reach remains to be seen.

When to see a Florida Launch Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Blue Origin, NASA rocket launch schedule in Florida

Blue Origin New Glenn launch date

The inaugural launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn is still on track for no earlier than 1 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13. The launch will be a spectacular sight from Brevard beaches, as it is the only launch pad visible from the shoreline.

ADVERTISEMENT

The company delayed the launch from Jan. 10 due to unfavorable conditions in the Atlantic Ocean, as the hope is to land the first-stage booster on the first flight. Landing the booster on the first flight of a multi-stage rocket is something never accomplished before, yet Blue Origin is going to make an attempt.

Be sure to follow the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team at FloridaToday.com/Space for the latest from the Space Coast.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX Starlink launch from Florida sees new reusability record