SpaceX launched its 87th mission of 2023 on November 27. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said that the company aims to perform a total of 100 missions this year, which is nearly double what it launched in 2022. The record-breaking launch manifest is possible thanks to SpaceX’s ability to recover and reuse orbital-class rockets.

The 87th mission, designated as ‘Starlink Group 6-30,’ saw the deployment of 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into orbit using a veteran Falcon 9 rocket. This launch took place from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 11:20 p.m. ET.

The Falcon 9 rocket used for this mission, with the tail number B1062-17, marked its 17th flight, showcasing the efficiency of SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology. This booster had previously supported a variety of missions, including: the U.S. Space Force’s GPS III Space Vehicles 04 and 05, SpaceX’s historic all-civilian Inspiration4 mission, Axiom Ax-1 astronauts, Nilesat 301 for Egypt, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8 for Saudi Arabia, and nine Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, the first-stage booster executed a precise landing on the ‘Just Read the Instructions’ droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the 249th orbital-class rocket landing for SpaceX, with the company having reused recovered boosters an impressive 221 times.

SpaceX’s commitment to reusable rocket technology is evident in its ambitious goals. The company aims to reuse each Falcon 9 Block 5 booster at least 20 times, with the current record standing at 18 reuses for a particular booster.

The primary payload for this mission comprised 23 Starlink V2 internet-beaming satellites, which were released into Low Earth Orbit approximately 60 minutes after liftoff. With this successful deployment, SpaceX’s Starlink constellation now consists of approximately 5,145 satellites providing internet services to over 2 million subscribers globally.

SpaceX’s frequent launches have solidified its position as the world’s leading launch provider. The company remains on track to achieve its goal of completing 100 missions in 2023, showcasing the capability of its Falcon 9 rocket and the efficiency gained through reusable rocket technology.