SpaceX set four company records Monday with the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Monday’s mission, called SSO-A, was to deliver 64 small satellites into orbit for a wide variety of government, academic and private-sector users for Spaceflight, SpaceX’s customer for the launch.
Here are the records SpaceX broke:
• The booster, also known as B1046, became the first Falcon 9 to launch three missions.
• B1046 also became the first to launch from all three of SpaceX’s pads, including Kennedy Space Center’s pad 39A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch Complex 40, and Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg.
• SpaceX completed its 19th launch of the year, breaking 2017’s record of 18.
• The 64 spacecraft launched were the most ever from an American-made rocket.
SpaceX also attempted, but was unsuccessful, in catching the rocket nose cone on its net-equipped boat, Mr. Steven.
“Falcon fairing halves missed the net but touched down softly in the water. Mr. Steven is picking them up. Plan is to dry them out & launch again. Nothing wrong with a little swim,” Musk said via Twitter.