SpaceX Launches Falcon 9's First Mission In 2025

The launch of the Thuraya 4 mission with Falcon 9 / PHOTO: X @SpaceX

JAKARTA SpaceX, a private space company, launched a Falcon 9 rocket again this morning at around 08.28 WIB. This rocket took off with a satellite belonging to the United Arab Emirates company.

This is the first Falcon 9 launch in 2025. This rocket was last used on December 31 to deliver dozens of Starlink satellites. As usual, Falcon 9 was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

At the launch this time, Falcon 9 delivered the Thuraya 4 satellite into geosynchronous orbit. The satellite was developed by Space42, a central-based satellite and space service company in the United Arab Emirates.

Once launched, the satellite will provide communication services for customers commercially and for the government. Some countries that can access this service are Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The launch of Falcon 9 went smoothly. About eight minutes after taking off, the rocket booster managed to return to Earth and land on a drone called A Shortfall of Gravity off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

About 35 minutes after launch, the Thuraya 4 satellite finally separated from the second stage of the rocket and placed in a geostationary transfer orbit. Slowly, the satellite will rise to geosynchronous orbits.

The Thuraya 4 mission became the 418th Falcon 9 rocket flight after several years of use. This mission is also the 20th flight and recovery for the upper-stage booster Falcon 9. In the future, SpaceX will use the rocket more often.