SpaceX is working with the Government of The Bahamas to conduct a series of Falcon 9 first-stage booster landings in the Exuma Sound.
These landings are part of a broader agreement between SpaceX and the Ministry of Tourism to enable technological collaboration, digital infrastructure expansion, and space industry growth in alignment with the Bahamas National Development Plan (Vision 2040) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The recovery operations support Falcon 9 launches of the Starlink satellite constellation, which is now delivering high-speed internet to underserved communities, maritime operations, and emergency response units across The Bahamas and beyond.
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Falcon 9
SpaceX leads the world in launches with its reliable, reusable rockets and is developing the fully and rapidly reusable rockets necessary to transform humanity’s ability to access space into something as routine as air travel. Falcon 9 is the world’s first orbital class reusable two-stage rocket, designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond.
Safety and reliability are at the core of SpaceX operations. Whether safely launching astronauts, customer payloads, or thousands of Starlink satellites to orbit, these missions all rely upon the Falcon family of rockets being the most reliable in the world. SpaceX has a rigorous process that puts every component and system through its paces to ensure safety and reliability ahead of each and every launch and landing.
Falcon 9 has successfully launched over 500 times and completed over 450 successful landings of its first-stage booster.
Recovery
Falcon 9’s first-stage boosters consistently and safely land on autonomous droneships stationed in designated and approved locations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Shortly after landing, a robot secures the booster to the droneship deck to prevent tipping during transit.
At the top of the Falcon 9 rocket are two fairing half covers that protect payloads (e.g., satellites) during launch. Approximately two minutes after lift-off, the fairing halves separate and return to Earth, deploying parachutes after atmospheric reentry to slow the two fairing halves’ descent and enable a soft splashdown in the ocean. SpaceX teams recover both the fairing halves and parachutes.
When landing in Bahamian waters, SpaceX’s droneship will be stationed in the Exuma Sound along with all fairing and parachute recovery.
