SpaceX has once again achieved a remarkable feat by tying its rocket-reuse record for the second time within a week. Today, a Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched two earth-observation satellites for Maxar, a company at the forefront of space technology. The launch occurred from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at the scheduled time of 2:36 p.m. EDT (1836 GMT; 11:36 a.m. local California time). This mission marked the 20th successful mission for the Falcon 9’s first stage, matching a record previously set by another Falcon 9 just last month. This particular achievement was further equaled by yet another successful launch last Saturday night, April 27. The Falcon 9 once again demonstrated its exceptional capabilities by making a vertical touchdown back at Vandenberg approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff. Simultaneously, the rocket’s upper stage carried two of Maxar’s incredible WorldView Legion satellites into their designated orbit. The deployment of the first spacecraft occurred precisely 13 minutes after launch, swiftly followed by the release of the second satellite 3.5 minutes later.

Maxar, a key player in the field, designed and constructed the WorldView Legion satellites that will be operated by Maxar Intelligence, both entities being divisions of Maxar Technologies. These satellites are the initial pair of a planned six-satellite network that promises groundbreaking capabilities. According to Maxar representatives, the launch of all six WorldView Legion satellites will triple the capacity of Maxar Intelligence to capture high-resolution, multispectral imagery with a resolution of 30 centimeters (12 inches).

Moreover, Maxar’s proposed constellation of 10 electro-optical satellites is designed to provide remarkable imaging capabilities. These satellites will rapidly capture the ever-changing areas on Earth every 20 to 30 minutes, from sunrise to sunset.

It is noteworthy that the current mission, designated Maxar 1 by SpaceX, coincides with a period of high activity for Elon Musk’s company. In addition to the aforementioned launch, SpaceX has scheduled the deployment of 23 of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida later tonight. Furthermore, the early hours saw the four astronauts of SpaceX’s Crew-8 mission perform a dexterous relocation of their Dragon capsule from one docking port on the International Space Station to another, creating space for Boeing’s upcoming Starliner spacecraft, scheduled for launch on May 6.