---
title: "SpaceX Preparing For First Launch Of A Reused Rocket"
description: "The final preparations are being made for SpaceX's first launch of a reused rocket, scheduled for Thursday evening."
date: "2017-03-28"
modified: "2017-03-28"
authors:
  - name: "Gabriel Loewenberg"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/gabriel-loewenberg"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/8656/spacex-preparing-for-first-launch-of-a-reused-rocket"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Falcon 9"
  - "Reusable Rocket"
  - "SES-10"
  - "SpaceX"
---

# SpaceX Preparing For First Launch Of A Reused Rocket

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/03/c78cx8vv4aatmgj.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

On Monday afternoon, [SpaceX](<https://www.spacex.com/>) successfully completed a static fire test ahead of Thursday's scheduled Falcon 9 launch. This isn't just a regular launch for Elon Musk and the gang. This will be the first launch of a previously flown rocket. This is a massive milestone in SpaceX's reusable rocket program.

This particular booster rocket, known as Core 1021, first flew last April and landed on the SpaceX drone barge "Of Course I Still Love You." This was the second successful landing for the space flight privateers, and [the first to touch down on one of their ocean landing platforms](<https://www.space.com/32517-spacex-sticks-rocket-landing-sea-dragon-launch.html>). The first rocket that made it back hold's a special place in Mr. Musk's heart and is on display at SpaceX's headquarters.

After undergoing a through inspection and testing, Core 1021 has been cleared for flight again. Using an abundance of caution, SpaceX will be relaunching this rocket almost a year after it's maiden voyage. The company has said that the turn-around time for reuse is actually closer to four months. Right now, a new Falcon 9 costs around $60 million, but with a reusable booster, SpaceX hopes that the cost will come down to around $40 million. While that's still expensive (for perspective, you could buy about 20 Veyrons with that kind of cash), a savings of $20 million per launch is kind of like getting a "Launch 2, Get 1 Free" deal. With a goal of reusing boosters 15 to 20 times each, this brings the cost of launching satellites, resupplying ISS, and eventually sending people up atop a SpaceX rocket a lot more affordable.

The launch is scheduled for Thursday March 29th, at 6:00pm EST, with a two and half hour window to get it up in the air. The Falcon 9 will be carrying the geostationary communications satellite [SES-10](<https://www.ses.com/newsroom/launch-ses-10-tailored-high-power-beams-latin-america>) in to orbit. With the static fire test completed, the satellite is being loaded on to the rocket as the final preparations are underway for the launch. After deploying SES-10, SpaceX plans on landing the core again. If all goes well, expect some [exuberant tweeting from Elon Musk](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk>) on Thursday night.

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