Overview

• The mission delivered IAI’s Dror 1 communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit under the Commercial GTO-1 designation, expanding Israel’s national communications capacity.
• Booster B1083 flew for a record 13th time and landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions, marking that vessel’s 128th touchdown and SpaceX’s 474th booster recovery.
• Dror 1 was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries’ Systems, Missile and Space Group to operate for 15 years and secure sovereign communications infrastructure.
• SpaceX maintained an uncommon level of commercial secrecy around the mission, reflecting selective confidentiality practices for certain customers.
• The 500th Falcon 9 launch underscores a decade of reusable rocketry innovation since the first propulsive landing in 2014, reshaping global satellite deployment.