SpaceX sets nine-day rocket re-use record

SpaceX has set a new record for reusing rockets. Early Friday morning, the company launched a Falcon 9 rocket for the second time in just nine days. The previous record for turnaround was 14 days. The rocket lifted off at 2:49 a.m. EST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This mission was for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The latest launch came just nine days after the Falcon 9 delivered the SPHEREx space telescope and PUNCH solar probes into orbit on March 11. The NRO stated that this launch was the eighth time they used a "proliferated architecture." This concept involves deploying many smaller satellites designed for better capability and resilience. In the past two years, the NRO has launched over 150 satellites, creating the largest government satellite constellation in U.S. history. The Falcon 9 launch on Friday was the 450th for this rocket model. The satellites launched are believed to be part of a Starshield constellation for the government. This system is a version of SpaceX's Starlink, created in partnership with Northrop Grumman. This mission marked the second Falcon 9 launch of the year, following the NROL-153 mission in January. Details about the number of satellites launched on Friday have not been disclosed.