In an impressive display of rapid-fire space operations, SpaceX successfully launched a commercial satellite from Kennedy Space Center on Thursday morning, completing three launches in a remarkable span of just under 30 hours. This was made possible from its three active launch pads located in Florida and California.

The mission, designated SiriusXM SXM-9, involved a Falcon 9 rocket carrying satellite hardware built by Maxar Space Systems to geosynchronous transfer orbit. The liftoff occurred at 11:10 a.m. from Launch Complex 39-A, with the launch highlighted by mostly clear skies.

A standout aspect of this mission was the first-stage booster’s impressive 19th flight, which returned safely to the Atlantic Ocean aboard the droneship “Just Read the Instructions.” This successful landing marked a significant milestone for SpaceX, totaling 380 successful booster landings since 2015 and 100 for the Just Read the Instructions ship alone, one of three SpaceX droneships operating from Port Canaveral.

This successful launch marks the 87th mission from the Space Coast in 2024, with the lion's share attributed to SpaceX. Earlier that same week, on Wednesday at 5:13 a.m., another Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, followed by yet another Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California later that day.

With only 25 days left in the year, SpaceX is poised to set another record for launch frequency, edging past the previous 72 launches in a year from the Space Coast. However, reaching a total of 100 launches this year appears increasingly unlikely.

United Launch Alliance had initially planned to perform two more launches of its newly developed Vulcan Centaur rocket for national security missions, but a certification delay due to a prior booster issue means these launches will not occur until 2025. Meanwhile, Blue Origin is preparing for a hot fire test of its New Glenn rocket, with the goal of launching it by the end of this year.

Looking ahead, SpaceX plans to maintain its momentum with Falcon 9 launches at a pace of approximately two per week from Florida. Including operations in California, SpaceX has now completed 124 orbital missions, as well as four suborbital test flights of its Starship and Super Heavy rocket out of Texas.

SpaceX's ability to execute multiple launches in such a short period is a testament to its operational efficiency and innovation in the aerospace industry. With each milestone, the company is not just reshaping space travel but also setting the stage for a future where satellite constellations, interplanetary missions, and space tourism could become the norm. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates from space exploration, as the countdown to more successful launches continues!