SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites on the Starlink 10-30 mission from Florida. The Falcon 9 booster B1080, which was used for this mission, marked its 21st flight and contributed to SpaceX's milestone of 450 booster reuses. The booster was recovered aboard the droneship Just Read the Instructions (JRTI) and returned to Port Canaveral with the assistance of the tug Signet Warhorse III. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab completed its 69th Electron rocket launch, deploying the QPS-SAR-12 radar imaging satellite for QPS Inc. The payload was placed into a 570 x 582 km orbit with a 42.0-degree inclination, confirming mission success. Rocket Lab's Electron second stage was tracked in a separate orbit of 223 x 585 km. Additionally, United Launch Alliance announced plans to launch its Vulcan Centaur rocket for its first national security mission on August 12, 2025. Separately, the NISAR satellite, launched from India a week prior, is preparing to deploy its boom and reflector antenna before starting calibration and validation for Earth surface studies.
One week ago: Liftoff from India! NISAR is a mission to study Earth's changing surfaces with unprecedented resolution and frequency. The satellite's next step is to deploy its boom and reflector antenna. Then, it will begin calibration and validation. https://t.co/1YZy17WSGY https://t.co/TJh0vYPqMG
United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket will launch its first-ever national security mission on Aug. 12, if all goes according to plan. https://t.co/F1OR9GnXvd
Falcon 9 rocket booster B1080 returned to Port Canaveral at about noon aboard droneship Just Read the Instructions (JRTI). Monday’s Starlink 10-30 mission was its 21st trip to space & was also SpaceX’s 450th reuse of a booster! Tug Signet Warhorse III had the tow duty. 👍🏻🚀⛴️ https://t.co/bsL6IRaGLX