Early within the morning of Nov. 2 , 2025, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket roared off its pad on the Area Launch Complicated in Cape Canaveral, carrying the devoted rideshare mission generally known as Bandwagon-4 into orbit.
Aboard had been 18 payloads, a few of them experimental applied sciences and others satellites, all heading for low Earth orbit. And, like most SpaceX missions, this one featured a rocket touchdown, which is highlighted above.
What’s it?
Bandwagon is one among SpaceX’s two satellite-rideshare applications, together with Transporter. As its title suggests, Bandwagon-4 was the fourth mission in this system, and in accordance with the manifest, it efficiently delivered 18 payloads to their goal orbits.
The place is it?
This picture was taken at Touchdown Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Area Pressure Station in Florida, the place the Falcon 9 first stage touched down on Nov. 2.
Why is it superb?
Rideshare applications make entry to area extra inexpensive to numerous stakeholders that will not be capable of afford a devoted launch, similar to universities and start-ups.
These teams can add their experiments and know-how to the Falcon 9 rocket — payloads similar to Huge Area’s Haven Demo, a pathfinder for Haven-1, a non-public area station. The profitable launch of Bandwagon-4 marks a key step in making area extra accessible as humanity continues to look to the celebs.
And rocket landings, which SpaceX has made routine over the previous decade or so, are superb in their very own proper: They assist lower the prices of spaceflight and permit extra rockets to get off the pad in a well timed style.
Wish to be taught extra?
You’ll be able to be taught extra about rideshare missions and SpaceX’s work.
