SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched for 125th time this year
What's the story
SpaceX has achieved another milestone by launching its Falcon 9 rocket for the 125th time this year. The latest mission took off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base yesterday, at 10:06am EDT (7:36pm IST). The Falcon 9 carried a payload of 28 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), marking a significant step in SpaceX's efforts to expand its satellite internet constellation.
Landing success
Successful landing of 1st stage booster
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket made a successful return to Earth, landing on SpaceX's droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean. This was the second launch and landing for this particular booster, designated B1097. The other flight was also a Starlink mission, according to SpaceX's mission description.
Satellite constellation
Over 8,500 active Starlink satellites orbit Earth
Notably, over 70% of Falcon 9 launches in 2025 have been dedicated to building Starlink, the biggest satellite constellation ever assembled. Currently, there are over 8,500 active Starlink satellites orbiting Earth. The European Space Agency reports that there are only 12,500 operational satellites of any kind in orbit at this time. This means two out of every three functional spacecraft currently in space is a Starlink satellite, and that proportion is only going to grow.