SpaceX flies a used Falcon 9 booster for the first time
A booster that had already flown to orbit and landed was launched again, a milestone for reusable rockets.
Archive entry. This article looks back at an event from March 30, 2017. It was drafted with AI assistance from public records and is being fact-checked. See our About page.
On March 30, 2017, SpaceX launched the SES-10 communications satellite on a Falcon 9 whose first stage had flown before. That booster had launched a cargo mission to the International Space Station in April 2016 and then landed on a drone ship.
It was the first time an orbital-class rocket booster had been reflown. The booster landed on a drone ship once again after the flight.
SpaceX said reuse was the key to lower costs. Booster reflights became routine, and individual boosters have since flown many times.
