Since 2015, SpaceX has perfected the recovery of the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage, turning a once rare feat into a daily rhythm of spaceflight. The sight of a Falcon 9 returning to Earth, engines blazing and the booster landing upright, remains one of the most captivating moments in modern rocketry and a powerful symbol of reusability in space travel. Most Falcon 9 landings occur on a droneship stationed in the ocean, a floating platform that supports the booster’s oceanic return after liftoff. This maritime recovery approach has become integral to SpaceX’s mission cadence, enabling faster reuse cycles and shorter turnaround times for subsequent launches. On occasion, SpaceX also secures land landings near the launch site or at ground-based landing zones, showcasing flexibility in recovery strategies and reducing transport time for refurbishment. The routine of first-stage recoveries is about more than spectacle. It represents a fundamental shift in how rockets are reused, driving down costs and accelerating access to space. Each successful recovery feeds a broader lifecycle of refurbishment, testing, and reuse that underpins SpaceX’s ambitious launch manifest. By converting spent boosters into reusable assets, SpaceX has reshaped the economics of spaceflight and expanded possibilities for satellite deployment, cargo missions, and crewed exploration. The ongoing journey of the Falcon 9’s first stage—from liftoff to touchdown and reuse—embodies the forward momentum of contemporary rocket science. Original publication: Digital Trends.