SpaceX launches seven satellites aboard used Falcon 9 rocket
Payload includes two Nasa satellites that will track Earth’s water cycle
SpaceX successfully launched one of its used Falcon 9 crafts into space yesterday evening carrying a payload of seven satellites.
Lifting off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 3:48pm EST (7.48pm GMT), the rocket was powered by a first-stage booster that previously launched SpaceX’s secretive Zuma military mission in January.
The seven satellites heading into orbit comprise five Iridium Next communication satellites and two crafts for Nasa and the German Research Centre for Geosciences.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Iridium Next satellites are part of a campaign by US telecommunications company Iridium to “replace the world’s largest commercial satellite network”, says CNet.
Meanwhile, Nasa and the German research centre’s “Grace” (gravity recovery and climate experiment) satellites will be used to track the water coverage and movement on Earth’s surface, the tech news site reports.
Although SpaceX recovers the booster stages of many of its rockets, to reduce costs and waste, the company did not attempt to land the rocket involved in yesterday’s mission, Space.com says.
The Elon Musk-owned aerospace company did try, but failed, to land the nose cone of the rocket, which keeps the satellites in place until they reach orbit.
The Falcon 9 rocket itself was one of SpaceX’s Block 4 models, which can only be used on two missions before being discontinued, says Ars Technica.
The company plans to move operations over to its new Block 5 rocket, which made its maiden flight two weeks ago and can used on at least ten missions before any major parts need replacing.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Ottawa climate talks: can global plastic problem be solved?
In the spotlight Nations aim to draft world's first treaty on plastic pollution, but resistance from oil- and gas-producing countries could limit scope
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Netherlands split on WFH for sex workers
Speed Read Councils concerned over 'nuisance' of at-home sex work, but others say changes will curb underground sex trade
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'He adored Trump, and then rejected him'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nasa reveals first findings from asteroid that could explain origins of life
Speed Read Sample from Bennu has been found to contain an abundance of water and carbon
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Dark side of the Moon: will the race to lunar South Pole spark conflict?
Today's Big Question Russia and India are competing for the ‘new lunar gold’ – but real contest will be between the US and China
By The Week Staff Published
-
How worried we should be about space debris
feature As part of a rocket washes up in Australia scientists warn ‘critical mass’ of orbital junk could only be decades away
By The Week Staff Published
-
What is NASA's Artemis program?
Speed Read NASA's ambitious Artemis program will eventually create a base on the moon — and lay the foundations for manned missions to Mars
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
SpaceX launches 1st all-civilian crew into orbit
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Is SpaceX's Inspiration4 really an inspiration?
Talking Point
By Jeva Lange Published
-
Jeff Bezos' Promethean impulse
Talking Point
By Damon Linker Published
-
The benefits of billionaires in space
opinion This is how innovation begins
By James Pethokoukis Published