SpaceX reuses Falcon 9 rocket for second time – update
SpaceX will launch a used Falcon 9 rocket for the second time on Friday evening, after a successful previous attempt. This time, the rocket is carrying a communications satellite. A second launch is planned for the company this weekend.
The current launch is from platform 39A at Cape Canaveral in Florida. It concerns the launch of the satellite BulgariaSat-1 of the Bulgarian TV company Bulsatcom. According to Space.com, it is the same booster that was used in January to launch ten communications satellites into space for the company Iridium. If successful, the mission will mark the 11th time SpaceX has landed a rocket after launch. according to Elon Musk, it will be a difficult task, partly because a lot of heat will be released.
March saw the first time that SpaceX deployed a recycled rocket. The company used that same first stage in April last year to send a Dragon capsule to the International Space Station for supplies. As then, the space agency managed to successfully land the Falcon 9 on a sea platform. The core booster contains fold-out legs and a thruster system for this.
Another Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for next Sunday, this time with a new rocket and again satellites for Iridium. That launch will take place from the Vandenberg base in California. Quartz says it’s rare for launches to happen within 48 hours of each other by the same organization. The last time this happened was in 2008, when it involved SpaceX competitor United Launch Alliance.
The current launch, which has been delayed by about an hour to conduct additional checks, can be viewed via the livestream below.
Update, 21:19: The rocket has successfully landed on the sea platform ‘of course I still love you’ with a so-called three engine landing burn.