On November 17, 2025, SpaceX launched the Sentinel-6B ocean mapping satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This mission marked SpaceX’s 500th orbital flight using a reused rocket. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 12:21 a.m. EDT, carrying the Sentinel-6B, which will extend nearly 40 years of accurate sea-level records from space, as stated by NASA spokesperson Delor Nail.
SpaceX’s President Gwynne Shotwell celebrated the reuse milestone, emphasizing the progress made toward future missions involving human travel to the moon and Mars with their Starship rocket. Although Starship has completed 11 launches, those are not included in the 500 missions count since they were suborbital test flights.
Sentinel-6B is part of the European Union’s Copernicus Earth Observation Program and will continue the work of its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Frelich, which launched in November 2020. The satellite’s mission is crucial for monitoring global sea level rise, with recent data showing a 10-centimeter increase in ocean height over the past 25 years due to climate change.
The satellite features advanced radar altimeter equipment from ESA and a microwave radiometer from NASA, which will help interpret atmospheric moisture for more accurate measurements. Over its first year, Sentinel-6B will work in conjunction with its predecessor to improve data accuracy.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage successfully deployed the 3,175-pound satellite at an altitude of 1,322 kilometers about 57 minutes post-launch, while the first stage returned for landing, marking the booster’s third flight.
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