On Wednesday, March 13, 2024, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, marking the first mission under the “Bandwagon” initiative. This mission, designated Starlink 6-43, carried 23 second-generation Starlink internet satellites, pushing the total number of satellites launched by SpaceX to over 6,000.
The Falcon 9 rocket carried another batch of Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, further expanding SpaceX’s satellite broadband network. This mission was the 25th Falcon 9 launch of the year, demonstrating SpaceX’s commitment to providing global broadband connectivity. The first stage booster supporting this mission, B1062, launched for a record-breaking 19th time, tying it as the flight leader alongside B1058 and B1061. Following the launch, B1062 successfully landed on SpaceX’s droneship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ marking the 61st landing on this particular drone ship and the 284th SpaceX booster landing to date.