Falcon 9 launching from Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:31 pm ET, an article that flies for the 17th time in that particular booster, which was successfully recovered on the "Just Read the Instructions" droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX passes the milestone toward a new annual launch record.

This time, with 71 launches from Florida under its belt, SpaceX is just one launch shy of matching its record of 72 launches from the Space Coast in 2023.
 
The company has done most of those, with five handled by the United Launch Alliance.
 
Friday's mission also added to SpaceX's rapidly expanding Starlink constellation, bringing the total number of satellites launched for its satellite internet network to more than 7,100 since 2019.

Note that 13 of the satellites launched on this mission have direct-to-cell, part of SpaceX's efforts to further improve global internet coverage.

To date, SpaceX launched 97 Falcon 9 missions this year, including this one, plus two Falcon Heavy missions.

Further, it has tested its under-development Starship rocket three test missions from its test site located at Starbase in Texas. The latest Starship mission was reportedly conducted on October 13, during which, for the first time, SpaceX made history—capturing the Super Heavy booster mid-air with the assistance of mechanical arms called "Mechazilla.".

It was a huge step toward rapid rocket reusability, something at the heart of the SpaceX vision for affordable space travel and missions to Mars.

Regulatory issues plagued the Starship program throughout the year. Early this month, the FAA granted SpaceX approval to move ahead with its fifth uncrewed Starship test flight following delays related to environmental concerns and safety rules.

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX had berated the FAA earlier for delays in referring overreach by regulatory authorities.

However, the FAA responded with instances like submitting sonic boom reports or compliance on Texas water usage regulations.
Despite all this, SpaceX's launch cadence this year has remained impressive so far.
Company officials had projected up to 144 launches this year but weather and other technical issues led to several delays pushing the current count of 99 operational missions.

So far in October, six launches by SpaceX have been flown, and the other months have had different counts- May with 13 and August with 11.

Most of these launches have been Starlink, a very ambitious satellite network envisioned by SpaceX to provide global coverage for internet use. Then there's SpaceX, which launched 67 Starlink-specific missions just in 2024 to illustrate how aggressive the company is being about expanding its satellite constellation, which now boasts more than 6,400 active satellites, according to Jonathan McDowell-a satellite tracker. These efforts have been enough to put SpaceX at the top of the satellite launch industry and pave the way for growth in even more commercial and experimental space missions.

As the rocket maker approaches its 100th mission of 2024, it is breaking all new grounds in rocket reusability as well as in the deployment of satellites, pushing boundaries technology for deep space exploration. The next Falcon 9 launch is due to come out soon, so it will not stay long on back order as this company continues to make a record-breaking year in space flight.