Another Milestone Passed With An ISS Holiday Delivery Launch

SpaceX has completed a fitting capstone to 2021 as it landed one of its reusable boosters for the 100th time, bringing a Falcon 9 down from its ISS resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The rocket completed its ascent, separation, and reentry burn before softly touching down aboard the automated landing target. The Falcon 9 parked aboard its automated platform, the drone ship "Just Read the Instructions", before powering down. The accomplishment marked the occasion of the brand's first successful booster landing six years prior, down to the day.

The launch has made 2021 the busiest year in spaceX history, also making a record of 28 for the most orbital launches from the Florida Space Coast center. The company made 31 launches in total, with the majority being flown by their Falcon 9 workhorse. The 100th launch mission took place on CRS-24, the 24th Commercial ReSupply mission to the ISS. The Falcon 9 brought the 3-ton Dragon cargo freighter into orbit loaded with holiday goodies and a suitable feast for the crew above. 

“Every year, we do our best to send up some presents to the crew,” said Joel Montalbano, NASA’s space station program manager, just prior to the launch. “I won’t get in front of Santa Claus and tell you what’s going to be sent up, but we are going to have some gifts for the crew.”

FMI: www.spaceX.com