SpaceX Fairing Recoveries

by scr00chy · 2020-03-21

Recovered fairings from Starlink v1-12 (Credit: Stephen Marr)

SpaceX has been working for years towards recovering and reusing payload fairings. Fairing is a two-piece protective shell made of aluminum and carbon composite at the tip of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Its purpose is to protect the payload from acoustic and atmospheric effects during launch. A Falcon fairing is almost 14 meters tall. Due to its size and the materials used, fairing production is time-consuming and costly (SpaceX produces the fairings in-house and the total cost for two fairing halves is 5 or 6 million dollars). So it is no wonder that the company would like to recover the fairings in order to use them repeatedly, just as it does with its rocket boosters.

Each fairing half is equipped with a steerable parafoil and small thrusters which allow the fairings to reenter the atmosphere intact and guide them toward a recovery zone. In the past, they attempted to land on modified ships Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief equipped with large nets. But this method had low success rate, so the fairings now land in the ocean and are then recovered by ships.

This list of fairing recovery attempts recognizes three generations of fairings: v1.0, v2.0 and v2.5. These are unofficial designations and there might actually be fewer or more fairing types. Version 1.0 was used until early 2018 with only one fairing half containing parachutes. Version 2.0 was used for most of 2018, was slightly wider and both of its halves could be recovered. Version 2.5 is the most recent type which added metal thermal protection on the tip of the fairing. But there may have been additional changes and improvements made since then.

» Much more detailed article about fairing recovery «

Changelog:

Mar 8, 2025 – Added information about the IM-2, Starlink 15-1, 12-13 and 12-14 fairing recoveries
Feb 22, 2025 – Added information about the Starlink 12-8 and 10-12 fairing recoveries
Feb 15, 2025 – Added information about the WorldView Legion 3, Starlink 12-9, 11-10 and 12-18 fairing recoveries
Feb 8, 2025 – Added information about the Starlink 11-6, 12-7, 11-4, 12-3 and SpainSat-NG I fairing recoveries
Jan 26, 2025 – Added information about the Blue Ghost M1 / HAKUTO-R M2, Starlink 13-1 and Starlink 11-8 fairing recoveries
Jan 18, 2025 – Added information about the NROL-153, Starlink 12-11, Starlink 12-4 and Transporter-12 fairing recoveries
Jan 11, 2025 – Added information about the Thuraya 4-NGS, Starlink 6-71 and 12-11 fairing recoveries; 2024 recoveries moved to a separate page

2024 Recoveries >>

Legend: YES means the fairing successfully landed in the net. YES means the fairing missed the net but was then recovered from the ocean intact. YES means the fairing was recovered intact after a PLANNED ocean landing. NO means that the fairing wasn’t recovered intact (regardless of planned landing method). ♺ indicates a reused fairing (asterisk means that only one fairing half was reused).

Date (UTC)	Mission	Target(s)	Type	Recovered?	Reused on
2025-02-27	Starlink 12-13	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One of them flew for the 27th time. Bob was deployed for this mission. Both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-13 launch (Credit: SpaceX) Recovered fairing half from the Starlink 12-13 mission (Credit: randomname / NASA Spaceflight forums)
2025-02-27	IM-2	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 793 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One half flew for the 15th time and the other for the 7th or 8th time. Doug was deployed for this mission. Both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to the IM-2 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-02-23	Starlink 15-1	ocean	v2.5 ♺	UNCLEAR	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 664 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. GO Beyond was deployed but it’s unclear whether the fairings were recovered intact or not. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 15-1 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-02-21	Starlink 12-14	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. Doug was deployed for this mission. Both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-14 launch (Credit: SpaceX) Recovered fairing half from the Starlink 12-14 mission (Credit: randomname / NASA Spaceflight forums)
2025-02-19	Starlink 10-12	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 678 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 22nd time and the other for the 14th time. Bob was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 10-12 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-02-15	Starlink 12-8	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 26th time and the other for the 4th time. Doug was deployed for this mission. Both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-8 launch (Credit: SpaceX) Recovered fairings from the Starlink 12-8 mission (Credit: Julia Bergeron)
2025-02-11	Starlink 12-18	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. Bob was deployed for this mission. Both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-18 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-02-11	Starlink 11-10	ocean	v2.5 ♺	UNCLEAR	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 703 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. GO Beyond was deployed but it’s unclear whether the fairings were recovered intact or not. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 11-10 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-02-08	Starlink 12-9	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were likely reused but it hasn’t been confirmed. Doug was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-9 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-02-05	WorldView Legion 3	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 480 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 23rd time and the other for the 21st time. Bob was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to WorldView Legion 3 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-02-04	Starlink 12-3	ocean	v2.5 ♺?	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were likely reused but it hasn’t been confirmed. Doug was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral.
2025-02-02	Starlink 11-4	ocean	v2.5 ♺?	UNCLEAR	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 703 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. GO Beyond was deployed but it’s unclear whether the fairings were recovered intact or not. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 11-4 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-30	SpainSat-NG I	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / NO	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 1022 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 8th time and the other for the 5th time. Bob was deployed but brought back only one recovered fairing half. Falcon 9 fairing prior to SpainSat-NG I launch (Credit: SpaceX) Recovered fairing from the SpainSat-NG I mission (Credit: NASA Spaceflight)
2025-01-27	Starlink 12-7	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. Doug was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-7 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-24	Starlink 11-6	ocean	v2.5 ♺?	UNCLEAR	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 703 km downrange. Both fairing halves were likely reused but it hasn’t been confirmed. Loren C was deployed but it’s unclear whether the fairings were recovered intact or not. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 11-6 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-21	Starlink 11-8	ocean	v2.5 ♺	UNCLEAR	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 703 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. Loren C was deployed but it’s unclear whether the fairings were recovered intact or not. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 11-8 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-21	Starlink 13-1	ocean	v2.5 ♺?	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were likely reused but it wasn’t confirmed. Doug was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral.
2025-01-15	Blue Ghost M1 / HAKUTO-R M2	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 840 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 20th time and the other for the 12th time. Bob was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Lunar lander being encapsulated in a Falcon 9 fairing prior to Blue Ghost M1 / HAKUTO-R M2 launch (Credit: SpaceX) Lunar lander being encapsulated in a Falcon 9 fairing prior to Blue Ghost M1 / HAKUTO-R M2 launch (Credit: SpaceX) Lunar lander being encapsulated in a Falcon 9 fairing prior to Blue Ghost M1 / HAKUTO-R M2 launch (Credit: SpaceX) Falcon 9 fairing prior to Blue Ghost M1 / HAKUTO-R M2 launch (Credit: SpaceX) Falcon 9 fairing prior to Blue Ghost M1 / HAKUTO-R M2 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-14	Transporter-12	ocean	v2.5 ♺	UNCLEAR	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 581 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 19th time and the other for the 18th time. Loren C was deployed but it’s unclear whether the fairings were recovered intact or not. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Transporter-12 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-13	Starlink 12-4	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	SpainSat-NG I / ?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. Doug was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-4 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-10	Starlink 12-12	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. Bob was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-12 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-10	NROL-153	ocean	v2.5 ♺	UNCLEAR	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 685 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 16th time and the other for the 9th time. Loren C was deployed but it’s unclear whether the fairings were recovered intact or not. Falcon 9 fairing prior to NROL-153 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-08	Starlink 12-11	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused but we don’t know how many times. Doug was deployed and both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 12-4 launch (Credit: SpaceX)
2025-01-06	Starlink 6-71	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	SpainSat-NG I / ?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 670 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 23rd time and the other for the 4th time. They previously flew on O3b mPOWER 4 and SXM-9. Bob was deployed for this mission. Both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Falcon 9 fairing prior to Starlink 6-71 launch (Credit: SpaceX) Recovered fairings from the Starlink 6-71 mission (Credit: NASA Spaceflight) Recovered fairings from the Starlink 6-71 mission (Credit: NASA Spaceflight) Recovered fairings from the Starlink 6-71 mission (Credit: NASA Spaceflight)
2025-01-04	Thuraya 4-NGS	ocean	v2.5 ♺	YES / YES	Blue Ghost M1 / HAKUTO-R M2 / ?
» Show details « Landing took place in the Atlantic approximately 760 km downrange. Both fairing halves were reused. One flew for the 19th time and the other for the 16th time. Doug was deployed for this mission. Both fairing halves were recovered from the ocean and brought to Port Canaveral. Encapsulation of the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite into the Falcon 9 fairing (Credit: Ahmed Al Menhali) Encapsulation of the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite into the Falcon 9 fairing (Credit: Ahmed Al Menhali) Encapsulation of the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite into the Falcon 9 fairing (Credit: Ahmed Al Menhali) Encapsulation of the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite into the Falcon 9 fairing (Credit: Ahmed Al Menhali) Falcon 9 fairing prior to the Thuraya 4-NGS launch (Credit: SpaceX) Falcon 9 fairing prior to the Thuraya 4-NGS launch (Credit: SpaceX) Recovered fairings from the Thuraya 4-NGS mission (Credit: @JConcilus)