A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage lands on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. (Image credit: SpaceX (via X))
The Falcon 9’s first stage came back to Earth and made a vertical touchdown on the company’s drone ship about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. The ship, known as “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” was waiting nearby in the Atlantic Ocean; the rocket’s upper stage will not be recovered, as is standard for Falcon 9 flights.