{"id":9663,"date":"2025-12-17T21:16:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:16:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacex-flies-starlink-mission-using-falcon-9-booster-flying-for-a-30th-time\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T21:16:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:16:34","slug":"spacex-flies-starlink-mission-using-falcon-9-booster-flying-for-a-30th-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacex-flies-starlink-mission-using-falcon-9-booster-flying-for-a-30th-time\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX flies Starlink mission using Falcon 9 booster flying for a 30th time"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center to begin the Starlink 6-99 mission on Dec. 17, 2025. Image: Adam Bernstein \/ Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Update Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m. EST (2330 UTC): Adding comments from SpaceX\u2019s vice president of launch.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For the third time, SpaceX launched one of its Falcon 9 rocket boosters on a 30th flight, continuing along the path to certifying its rockets for use up to 40 times.<\/p>\n

The nine Merlin 1D engines at the base of the booster, tail number 1063, roared to life at 7:27 a.m. PST (10:27 a.m. EST \/ 1527 UTC) Wednesday morning. The flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was the second out of two planned flights that day, following a launch from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida that launched less than two hours prior at 8:42 a.m. EST (1342 UTC).<\/p>\n

Taking a south-easterly trajectory upon leaving the launch pad, B1063 separated from the rocket\u2019s upper stage less than three minutes into the mission. About six minutes later it was standing atop the SpaceX drone ship, \u2018Of Course I Still Love You\u2019, positioned in the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n