September 3, 2025 — SpaceX marked a rare occasion on Wednesday by debuting a brand-new Falcon 9 booster, designated B1097, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission, known as Starlink Group 17-8, successfully deployed 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
A Rare Fresh Booster
While SpaceX typically reuses its Falcon 9 rockets, this launch stood out as the booster’s maiden flight. The decision highlights the company’s production strength and confidence in its engineering standards.
Smooth Landing and Deployment
About eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the first stage made a precise landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You stationed in the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the upper stage completed its orbital insertion, releasing the 24 satellites that will further expand the Starlink internet constellation.
A Record-Breaking Year
This was SpaceX’s 109th mission of 2025 and the 527th Falcon 9 launch overall, underscoring the company’s dominance in the commercial launch market. The successful flight strengthens SpaceX’s push to broaden global broadband coverage while demonstrating the seamless integration of new hardware into its highly reliable fleet.
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