History-making SpaceX Falcon 9 booster mostly destroyed in post-flight topple

The first U.S. commercial rocket to launch astronauts into orbit has reached its end after being mostly destroyed during its latest post-flight recovery. Referred to as B1058, the SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage tipped over after its record-setting 19th flight.

Historic SpaceX Falcon 9 booster topples over and is lost at sea – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket B1058 Boosters Capsizes After Attempting 20th Flight

SpaceX's historic booster B1058 toppled over on the droneship during its transport back to the port after launching 43 Starlink satellites and completing 19 successful flights. The booster was expected to become the first SpaceX rocket to reach 20 flights. B1058 made its debut on May 30, 2020, during one of SpaceX's most important missions, launching astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, the first crewed mission for the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. Since then, B1058 has broken multiple records, including becoming the first SpaceX booster to complete 14 successful flights. The Falcon 9 Block 5 is certified for 10 missions, but an in-depth evaluation of B1058 showed that it could fly at least 20 missions. Unlike the future Starship, the Falcon 9 is partially reusable, with SpaceX reusing the payload fairing (the cone-shaped part that protects the satellites) and the first stage (a propulsion system with nine engines capable of returning to the launch site and landing vertically). The more modern Falcon 9 boosters have improved landing legs that can compensate for crosswinds. However, this is not a common problem. Boosters B1060, B1061, and B1062 have flown 17 times and are ready to break B1058's record.

Flying Falcon and Dragon

SpaceX Falcon9 Rocket Core B1058 by Heron And Fox

SpaceX Falcon9 Rocket Core B1058 by Heron And Fox