SpaceX Efficiently Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Loses Falcon 9 Booster

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink satellites was launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral Area Power Station on March 2. Liftoff came about at 9:24 p.m. ET on March 3, with the mission together with 13 satellites outfitted with direct-to-cell capabilities. The primary stage of the rocket efficiently landed on the droneship “Simply Learn the Directions” stationed roughly 400 kilometres off Florida’s coast. Nevertheless, the booster, designated B1086, was misplaced shortly after touchdown resulting from harm sustained by one in every of its touchdown legs.

Booster Loss After Touchdown

In response to SpaceX, a hearth on the aft finish of the booster resulted in structural harm, resulting in its collapse. The incident occurred after the rocket had accomplished its return to Earth and made contact with the touchdown platform. Knowledge from this failure can be examined to enhance the reliability of future Falcon 9 missions, as acknowledged in SpaceX’s official mission description.

Mission Particulars and Starlink Growth

The deployment of the 21 satellites came about roughly 65 minutes after launch, marking one other step within the enlargement of SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. Greater than 7,000 operational Starlink satellites are at present in orbit, contributing to international broadband protection.

This launch marked the Falcon 9 booster’s fifth and remaining flight. The B1086 had beforehand been used for 3 Starlink missions, in addition to the GOES-U and Maxar 3 missions. SpaceX has accomplished 26 Falcon 9 missions in 2025, with 19 devoted to Starlink. The corporate continues to advance its satellite tv for pc community regardless of the lack of the booster on this mission.