"After 156 successful Falcon 9 landings, Just Read the Instructions will be fully dedicated to support Starship operations going forward"

SpaceX is retiring its "Just Read the Instructions" drone ship after a successful career spanning 156 Falcon 9 landings. This marks the end of an era for the company's reusable rocket recovery program. The drone ship, a crucial component in enabling SpaceX's rapid launch cadence, will now be repurposed to exclusively support the development and operations of the Starship program. This transition signifies a shift in focus towards the larger, next-generation Starship vehicle.

The retirement of a key piece of Falcon 9 infrastructure highlights SpaceX's commitment to advancing its Starship program, which is intended for deep space missions and Mars colonization.