SpaceX Maxar 1 Mission Marks A Falcon 9 Booster's Record-tying 20th Flight

SpaceX Falcon 9 launched Maxar's two Earth-observation satellites to orbit on May 2 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 1836 UTC.

The Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth as expected, making a vertical touchdown back at Vandenberg about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. This was the 20th mission for this booster, tying a record set by two other Falcon 9 first stages.

"This Falcon 9 first stage previously supported Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425, and nine Starlink missions," SpaceX wrote on X.

Meanwhile, the rocket's upper stage continued its journey skywards, deploying two of Maxar's WorldView Legion satellites to orbit, about 15 minutes after launch.

The WorldView Legion satellites are built by Maxar Space Systems and will be operated by Maxar Intelligence, both of which are divisions of Maxar Technologies.

The spacecraft launched on May 2 Maxar 1 mission, are the first two of a planned six-satellite network. "When all six WorldView Legion satellites are launched, it will triple Maxar Intelligence's capacity to collect 30-centimeter-class [12 inches] and multispectral imagery," the company's representatives wrote in a description of the network. "The full Maxar constellation of 10 electro-optical satellites will image the most rapidly changing areas on Earth as frequently as every 20 to 30 minutes, from sunup to sundown."

Maxar 1 is part of a busy day for SpaceX. Earlier, SpaceX Crew-8 mission astronauts took part in Dragon Endeavour relocation maneuver at the International Space Station to make way for Boeing Starliner's first crewed mission to the station. The Elon Musk company also plans to launch 23 of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida later.

WATCH Maxar 1 mission launch and Falcon 9 first stage separation.