A Dual-Mission Week
The Space Coast witnessed a flurry of activity as SpaceX executed two launches in rapid succession. The first, occurring on the same day, involved a Starlink
mission that deployed another batch of internet satellites. This launch used a Falcon 9 rocket and included 29 satellites, bringing the company's total in 2025 alone to over 3,000 launched from all sites. The booster for this Starlink mission, making its 32nd trip to space, landed on a droneship in the Atlantic. This was followed by a national security mission the following day, a classified satellite launch for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40. This mission was part of the NSSL Phase 2 contract, with task orders completed in fiscal year 2024. These two launches brought the Space Coast orbital launch total for the year to 105, with SpaceX responsible for all but seven.
Final Landing Zone Usage
The NROL-77 mission carried a secret payload, and this launch marked the last time SpaceX utilized the landing zone at Canaveral for recovery. The booster used in this mission had already completed four launches and made its recovery at Landing Zone 2. SpaceX had been leasing Landing Zone 2 and Landing Zone 1 within Launch Complex 13 from the Department of the Air Force. While LZ-1 saw its final landing in August, the lease for LZ-2 ended on December 31. The LC 13 launch facilities, situated at the southern end of the Cape, have been unused for launches since 1980. However, the site has been designated for potential use by small rocket launch providers Vaya Space and Phantom Space. The company had been using both landing zones for approximately a decade. This event signified a major transition for the company.
Future Launch Operations
SpaceX is currently constructing its own landing zone at SLC-40, aiming to consolidate launch and landing operations at the same location. This approach aligns with the Air Force's preference for Canaveral launch operations. The launch of NROL-77 was SpaceX's third national security launch in 2025, which underscores the company’s continuing partnership with the U.S. government. SpaceX has built Starship launch pads at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-A and Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 37, but for now, the launches are only occurring in Texas. The mission patch for the NROL-77 launch depicted a flying squirrel, embodying the spirit of continuous learning and data gathering. This reflects the company's dedication to securing data from space for the U.S. and its allies. The development of new landing sites and the shift in launch operations showcase the evolution in space launch capabilities.
Satellite Deployments and Progress
The Starlink 6-92 mission, launched from Kennedy Space Center using a fleet-leading first-stage booster, included another 29 of the company's internet satellites. The company has sent up more than 10,000 Starlink satellites since its first operational mission in 2019, with more than 9,000 remaining in orbit. This latest Starlink mission, which sent the 3,000th satellite into space in 2025 alone, emphasized the expansion of the company's satellite network. The use of a first-stage booster for its 32nd trip to space highlighted the repeated reusability that is a core aspect of their business model. The successful recovery and deployment underscore the continuous advances in space technologies. The company's persistent dedication to its ongoing projects has allowed for continuous progress in the field of space exploration.
