SpaceX launches first Falcon 9 rocket of 2025

January 4, 2025 11:05 AM

Published January 4, 2025 11:14 AM

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - SpaceX launched its first Falcon 9 rocket of 2025 on Friday.

The rocket, carrying the Thuraya 4 communications satellite, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida just before 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

The rocket's first stage came back to Earth close to nine minutes later, landing aboard SpaceX's droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" in the Atlantic Ocean.

A little over half and hour after that, the Thuraya 4 satellite separated from the rocket's second stage and deployed into geostationary transfer orbit.

SpaceX said this was the 20th flight and recovery for this particular Falcon 9 first stage booster.

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Dillon Fuhrman

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