SpaceX Launches Three Rockets in 13 Hours

SpaceX set a new launch record by successfully completing three orbital missions in 13 hours. The series of launches included sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), 74 Transporter 13 satellites, 23 Starlink satellites, 13 of which are equipped with Direct-to-Cell technology, and the 400th successful return of a Falcon 9 first stage.

Image source: Spacex

The first Crew-10 mission took off on March 15 at 02:03 Moscow time from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which is located near the Cape Canaveral spaceport. The Falcon 9 rocket launched the Crew Dragon manned spacecraft with four astronauts on board into orbit as part of the NASA Commercial Crew program, which is aimed at providing regular manned flights to the ISS.

According to the schedule, the ship’s docking with the orbital station is planned for the morning of March 16 at 06:30 Moscow time. The Crew-10 crew will replace the previous shift and spend about six months at the station, performing scientific experiments and technical maintenance of the space complex.

Earlier this morning, SpaceX launched 74 payloads into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California as part of the Transporter 13 mission. The launch was a landmark event for the company, as it marked the 400th successful landing of the Falcon 9 first stage in the program’s history. The achievement highlights the effectiveness of the rocket booster reuse strategy, which significantly reduces the cost of space missions.

The third and final mission of the series also took place on March 15 at 14:35 Moscow time from the US Space Force base at Cape Canaveral. During this launch, the Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 Starlink satellites into orbit, designed to expand the company’s satellite internet constellation. Of these 23 satellites, 13 are equipped with Direct-to-Cell technology, allowing mobile subscribers to receive a signal directly from the satellites, bypassing ground infrastructure.

This is an important step in creating global satellite coverage, especially in remote and hard-to-reach regions. This launch is also notable because it is the 18th time that this Falcon 9 first stage has successfully landed, confirming the high level of reliability of SpaceX’s reusable space launches.

Since the program began, SpaceX has launched nearly 8,100 Starlink satellites into orbit, with 7,061 operational, according to satellite tracking specialist Jonathan McDowell. The company has already launched 31 Falcon 9 rockets in 2025, with two-thirds of those deploying the Starlink constellation, the largest constellation in history, providing internet access around the world.