Cape Canaveral, Florida – SpaceX made history on April 21, 2025, by launching the Falcon 9 rocket on a rideshare mission to mid-inclination orbits from SLC-40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This marked the third launch of the Falcon 9 rocket in less than 48 hours, demonstrating SpaceX’s rapid pace and efficiency in the aerospace industry.
The Bandwagon-3 mission took off at 8:48 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission was significant as it was the 245th orbital launch for SpaceX from SLC-40 and the 300th total orbital flight from the pad, showcasing the company’s extensive experience and expertise in space exploration.
SpaceX utilized the Falcon 9 first stage booster, with tail number 1090, for this rideshare flight. This booster had previously completed missions for the O3b mPOWER-E and Crew-10 launches, exemplifying SpaceX’s commitment to reusable rocket technology and cost-effective space travel.
One of the key payloads onboard the Falcon 9 rocket was the fourth synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite for the Korea 425 Project constellation, developed for the South Korean military. This satellite is part of a series of surveillance satellites being sent into orbit by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in partnership with Thales Alenia Space.
In addition to the Korea 425 Project satellite, the Falcon 9 rocket also carried payloads from Tomorrow Company Inc.’s Tomorrow-S7 satellite and Atmos Space Cargo’s Phoenix re-entry capsule. The Tomorrow-S7 satellite is part of the Tomorrow.io constellation and will operate in low Earth orbit to observe temperature and humidity profiles.
Atmos Space Cargo’s Phoenix capsule, part of the Phoenix 1 mission, received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in January to attempt a re-entry mission. The capsule aims to collect scientific data and test its inflatable heat shield during atmospheric re-entry, paving the way for future advancements in reusable space transportation.
The Bandwagon-3 mission had to adjust its trajectory, leading to a change in the landing site over the Atlantic Ocean. Atmos Space Cargo plans to monitor the re-entry of the Phoenix 1 spacecraft through an air-to-air reconnaissance mission, using a chartered aircraft equipped with a mobile satellite terminal to ensure data transmission during the re-entry phase.
This mission represents a significant step forward in the development of reusable space technology and demonstrates SpaceX’s continued innovation in the field of space exploration. As the aerospace industry evolves, companies like SpaceX and Atmos Space Cargo are leading the way in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space travel.