A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster returned to Port Canaveral Friday morning following its fourth successful launch earlier this week and will be moved using a new mobile crane.
The booster arrived on the drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You, -- where it landed after launch --around sunrise Friday.
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SpaceX’s now most experienced booster was used to launch 60 Starlink satellites on Monday. It was the first time a booster has flown more than three times.
“These boosters are designed to be used 10 times," SpaceX engineer Lauren Lyons said during the launch broadcast. "Let’s turn it around for a fifth, guys.”
SpaceX launched its second round of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Monday morning. The company plans to deliver almost 12,000 satellites to low-Earth orbit to create a global internet.
The liftoff marked the first time SpaceX re-used a payload fairing-- part of the nosecone of the rocket. Re-using rocket hardware helps drive down the cost of launching.
After the booster arrives at Port Canaveral, a 300-foot-tall mobile harbor crane will be used to move the booster from the droneship.
Closeup video of #SpaceX Falcon 9 booster preparing for a lift from @PortCanaveral’s 300 feet tall mobile harbor crane. Check out the great shape the rocket looks to be in after flying for a fourth time @news6wkmg @SpaceX @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/yV7r0ocnAB
— James Sparvero (@News6James) November 15, 2019