On February 18, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and achieved a historic first by landing the rocket’s first-stage booster on a droneship off the coast of The Bahamas. This mission marks the first time a rocket has taken off from one country and landed in another.
The Falcon 9 lifted off at 6:21 p.m. EST, carrying 23 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Approximately eight minutes post-launch, the first-stage booster touched down on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean near The Bahamas. This strategic landing location allows SpaceX to optimize rocket performance by enabling launches on a southeast trajectory from Florida’s Space Coast.
Utilizing a southeast launch path facilitates the deployment of additional satellites into polar orbits and supports human spaceflight missions, such as the upcoming Fram2 mission, which aims to explore Earth’s polar regions. Moreover, landing boosters off the Bahamian coast offers improved recovery options during winter months, ensuring the rapid and reliable reuse of Falcon 9 boosters for future missions.
This achievement underscores SpaceX’s commitment to advancing reusable rocket technology and expanding its operational capabilities. By securing landing rights in The Bahamas, SpaceX enhances its mission flexibility and continues to lead in innovative aerospace solutions.
