SpaceX Takes Another Step Closer to Its Rocket Reusability Dream As It Retracts Recently-Launched Falcon 9 in Record Time

The dream to reuse rockets in the future is fast approaching as technicians at SpaceX managed to retract its most recently-launched Falcon 9 booster's landing legs and bring it horizontally in record time.

This milestone could mean that booster B1059 is being prepared for the fastest turnaround in the SpaceX' history. With two Starlink launches completed in less than two weeks of June 2020 and a third satellite mission on June 22, the odds are better than SpaceX will be able to pull off a record launch cadence as the second half of the year begins.

SpaceX Plans to Perform 70 Annual Launches From Its Two Pads by 2023

On average, a sustained frequency of one launch every ~7 days would allow SpaceX to perform more than 50 orbital launches annually. An environmental impact assessment completed for upgrades earlier this year at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Pad 39A revealed plans for as many as 70 annual launches by 2023, according to Teslarati.

SpaceX has already proven that its two Florida launch pads- KSC Pad 39A and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) LC-40 - can support 60-70 launches every year when pushed to its limits. The latter has already performed two launches just recently within nine days for a potential of 40 launches in one year.

The company would have come a majority (75%) of the way in demonstrating that its fleet of Falcon rockets can pull off launches and rocket reusability if SpaceX will successfully launch four Falcon 9 in 27 days, as it's currently scheduled.

SpaceX did not waste any time processing B1059 after ~8 am EDT return to Port Canaveral, kicking off landing leg retraction shortly eight hours of docking. It is the first sea recovery for B1059 and was also the second use of drone ship OCISLY or the Of Course I Still Love You's upgraded Octagrabber--tank-like robot keeping the technicians secure while remotely securing Falcon boosters on high seas.

Upgraded Octagrabber Robot

SpaceX uses a new recovery method, which was first used with Falcon 9 booster B1058 earlier this month for the second time. The upgraded Octagrabber robot will entirely support a booster and retract its legs on-site, allowing SpaceX to skip the recovery process and only lifting the rocket once it is ready to be brought horizontal and loaded onto a transporter.

Its first use allowed SpaceX to process a booster faster than any before it, breaking its previous record of 1.9 days from port arrival to departure on a horizontal transporter. It is now B1059's goal to beat B1058's weeks-old recovery turnaround record.

If SpaceX wants to sustain a cadence of 3-6 Falcon 9 launches per month, they should have extra-efficient recovery processing and unprecedented rapid booster reuse. It is a necessity for the expedient deployment of 12,000 to 40,000 satellite Starlink internet constellation.

But with three launches in one month, SpaceX is indeed making rapid progress in the right direction.

Late this afternoon #SpaceX #Starlink Booster B1059.3 got back to the dock and slowly got all its legs lifted in one of the steps to returning the booster to the hanger so it can start its process all over again. Next mission #4 unknown but I am sure it wont take long. #NASA pic.twitter.com/DZnXzgH3tR — Greg Scott (@GregScott_photo) June 16, 2020