SpaceX successfully launched its first Falcon 9 rocket of 2025 on January 3, marking another milestone in the company’s ambitious space program. The rocket carried a Thuraya 4 communications satellite to geosynchronous orbit, providing mobile communications services for commercial and government customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The 20th flight and recovery for this Falcon 9 first stage booster marked SpaceX’s 341st successful orbital-class rocket landing. The reusable booster, which previously launched the ispace Haukto-R moon lander and ISS resupply missions, successfully landed on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean after the launch.
The Thuraya 4 satellite, built by Airbus, will utilize “innovative AI-powered services” to deliver enhanced mobile communications. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has now completed 418 flights of this specific rocket model, and the company is expected to launch over 130 more missions in 2025, following its record-breaking total of 130 orbital missions in 2024.
This successful mission marks another step forward for SpaceX, solidifying its position as a leader in the global space industry.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-1st-falcon-9-rocket-of-2025