SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Power Base in California on April 6, 2024. (SpaceX)
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Power Base in California on Friday night time.
The rocket lifted off at 8:14 p.m. PT
Friday night time’s mission, referred to as NROL-186, concerned transporting a payload for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, a authorities company accountable for designing and constructing spy satellites for the U.S.
After launching vertically, the Falcon started a gradual flip whereas persevering with to climb into orbit.
Following stage separation after liftoff, the Falcon’s reusable booster made a pinpoint touchdown again on the spaceport drone ship, “Of Course I Nonetheless Love You,” which is stationed within the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Power Base in Southern California, carrying a payload for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, a authorities company accountable for constructing U.S. spy satellites on June 28, 2024. (SpaceX)SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Power Base in Southern California, carrying a payload for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, a authorities company accountable for constructing U.S. spy satellites on June 28, 2024. (SpaceX)SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Power Base in Southern California, carrying a payload for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, a authorities company accountable for constructing U.S. spy satellites on June 28, 2024. (SpaceX)SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Power Base in Southern California, carrying a payload for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, a authorities company accountable for constructing U.S. spy satellites on June 28, 2024. (SpaceX)SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Power Base in Southern California, carrying a payload for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, a authorities company accountable for constructing U.S. spy satellites on June 28, 2024. (SpaceX)SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Power Base in Southern California, carrying a payload for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, a authorities company accountable for constructing U.S. spy satellites on June 28, 2024. (SpaceX)SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket returned to earth and made a pinoint touchdown on the spaceport drone ship, “Of Course I Nonetheless Love You,” within the Pacific Ocean on June 28, 2024. (SpaceX)SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket returned to earth and made a pinoint touchdown on the spaceport drone ship, “Of Course I Nonetheless Love You,” within the Pacific Ocean on June 28, 2024. (SpaceX)
The primary-stage booster on this explicit Falcon 9 rocket has accomplished eight liftoffs to this point.
The booster has beforehand launched Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, EarthCARE, and two Starlink missions.
Friday night time’s launch could possibly be seen from a whole lot of miles away alongside the Southern California coast.
The mission was the 66th Falcon 9 flight in 2024. To this point, 47 of the rocket’s launches have been devoted to constructing SpaceX’s Starlink broadband satellite tv for pc community in low Earth orbit.