Falcon 9 B1051

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Falcon 9 booster B1051
File:RADARSAT Mission (48052182461).jpg
B1051 landing during RADARSAT mission
Role	First stage of orbital class rocket
National origin	United States
Type	Falcon 9 first stage booster
Manufacturer	SpaceX
Construction number	B1051
First flight	2 March 2019 (SpaceX Demo-1)
Last flight	12 November 2022 (Intelsat G-31/G-32)
Flights	14
Status	Expended

Falcon 9 Booster B1051 was a reusable Falcon 9 Block 5 booster manufactured by SpaceX. It was the sixth Falcon 9 Block 5 booster ever built. It was the first booster to be used eight, nine, ten, eleven and twelve times respectively and the first booster to launch a commercial payload on its seventh flight. It launched the first Dragon 2 spacecraft to orbit, RADARSAT Constellation, SXM-7 and 10 Starlink missions. It flew for a last time on the Intelsat G-31/G-32 mission and was expended.

Flight history

Main article: Crew Dragon Demo-1

B1051 started its service on March 2, 2019, for the SpaceX Demo-1 Mission. It was the first orbital test of a SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft. The flight marked the 70th flight for the Falcon 9 and the 3rd SpaceX flight for 2019. After stage separation, the booster landed successfully on the ASDS Of Course I Still Love You, marking SpaceX's 35th successful Falcon 9 booster recovery.

Second flight

B1051 flew for the second time on June 12, 2019, launching three RADARSAT satellites. It was the most valuable commercial payload put into orbit to date. Originally B1050 was planned to be used for this mission, however, after a failed landing attempt it was replaced by B1051. The booster performed a boostback burn and landed on SpaceX's Landing Zone 4 marking the 40th successful Falcon 9 booster recovery.

Third flight

On January 29, 2020, B1051 launched the 3rd Starlink mission. This launch made B1051 one of a few boosters to be launched from all SpaceX launch pads. This flight also marked the 2nd orbital and 3rd total launch of Falcon 9 in 2020 after Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test earlier this month. 60 Starlink satellites were successfully placed into Low Earth Orbit, and the booster landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, and one of two payload fairings was caught by the Ms. Tree recovery vessel.

Fourth flight

The 7th dedicated and 6th commercial Starlink mission launched on April 22, 2020, and carried 60 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. The booster made a successful touchdown on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship. It surpassed the Atlas V to become the most flown operational United States rocket. Used fairings from the AMOS-17 mission in 2019.

Fifth flight

The 9th commercial Starlink mission launched on August 7, 2020, and carried 57 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. The mission also carried the SXRS-1 (BlackSky Global 7 and 8) satellites. The booster made a successful touchdown on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship.

Sixth flight

The 13th commercial Starlink mission launched on October 18, 2020, and carried 60 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. The booster made a successful touchdown on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship. Both fairing halves were recovered successfully on their respective ships, but one half broke the net on Ms. Tree.

Seventh flight

On December 13, 2020, B1051 launched the SXM-7 satellite to a sub-synchronous orbit and injected itself into its desired orbit to full GTO. The booster landed successfully on the Just Read the Instructions droneship. It was the first time a commercial primary payload flew on a booster which had been flown more than four times before. However, after more than one month after launch, the satellite suffered undisclosed failures during in-orbit testing.

Eighth flight

The 16th commercial Starlink mission launched on January 10, 2021, and carried 60 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. This also made B1051 the first booster to reach 8 launches and landings in a row surpassing B1049, the first booster to conduct 6 and 7 flights in a row. B1051 made a successful touchdown on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship.

Ninth flight

The 21st commercial Starlink mission launched on March 14, 2021, and carried 60 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. With this launch, B1051 was the first booster to reach 9 flights. B1051 made a successful touchdown on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship.

Tenth flight

The 27th commercial Starlink mission launched on May 9, 2021, and carried 60 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. With this launch, B1051 was the first booster to reach 10 flights. B1051 made a successful touchdown on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship.

Eleventh flight

A Starlink mission launched on December 18, 2021. The third mission for a 53.2 degree inclination orbit and carried 60 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. With this launch, B1051 was the first booster to reach 11 flights. B1051 made a successful touchdown on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship.

Twelveth flight

A Starlink mission launched on March 19, 2022, and carried 60 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. This launch marked 12 times a booster has flown. B1051 made a successful touchdown on the Just Read the Instructions droneship.

Thirteenth flight

A Starlink mission launched on July 17, 2022, and carried 60 Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit. Last launch of this booster before it was expended, and it was the 8th launch within 30 days. B1051 made a successful touchdown on the Just Read the Instructions droneship.

Fourteenth flight

B1051's last flight delivered Intelsat Galaxy-31 and Galaxy-32 satellites into Geostationary Transfer Orbit. Falcon 9 was launched on November 12, 2022. Due to payload mass and targeted orbit, the booster was expended. The first expended Falcon 9 mission of the year since the In-Flight Abort Test in 2020.

Launches

Flight #	Launch date (UTC)	Mission #	Payload	Pictures	Launch pad	Landing location	Notes
1	March 2, 2019	69	SpaceX Demo-1	File:SpaceX Demo-1 Preflight (NHQ201903010017).jpg	LC-39A	Of Course I Still Love You	First flight of B1051 and first Dragon 2 orbital flight.
2	June 12, 2019	72	RADARSAT Constellation	File:RADARSAT Mission (48052224858).jpg	SLC-4E	LZ-4	Most valuable commercial payload put into orbit to date.
3	January 29, 2020	80	Starlink V1 L3		SLC-40	Of Course I Still Love You
4	April 22, 2020	84	Starlink V1 L6		LC-39A	Of Course I Still Love You
5	August 7, 2020	90	Starlink V1 L9 & BlackSky		LC-39A	Of Course I Still Love You	Two rideshare satellites were on this mission.
6	October 18, 2020	95	Starlink V1 L13	File:B1051.jpg	LC-39A	Of Course I Still Love You
7	December 13, 2020	102	SXM-7		SLC-40	Just Read the Instructions	First reuse of fairings on a commercial launch.
8	January 20, 2021	105	Starlink V1 L16		LC-39A	Just Read the Instructions	First Falcon 9 booster to fly for an 8th time and B1051's fastest turnaround time.
9	March 14, 2021	111	Starlink V1 L21	File:45th Space Wing Supports Successful Falcon 9 L-21 Starlink Launch (210314-F-KD758-781).jpg	LC-39A	Of Course I Still Love You	First Falcon 9 booster to fly for a 9th time.
10	May 9, 2021	117	Starlink V1 L27		SLC-40	Just Read the Instructions	First Falcon 9 booster to fly for a 10th time.
11	December 18, 2021	132	Starlink Group 4-4	File:SpaceX Starlink 4-4 (7469360).jpeg	SLC-4E	Of Course I Still Love You	First Falcon 9 booster to fly for an 11th time.
12	March 19, 2022	145	Starlink Group 4-12		SLC-40	Just Read the Instructions	First Falcon 9 booster to fly for a 12th time.
13	July 17, 2022	165	Starlink Group 4-22	File:Starlink 4-22 Launch (7326409).jpeg	SLC-40	Just Read the Instructions
14	November 12, 2022	185	Intelsat G-31/G-32		SLC-40	No Attempt	Last flight of Booster 1051.

References

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