CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX has launched and landed its second rocket in three days, this time from the U.S. East Coast.
The unmanned Falcon — recycled following a February flight — blasted off with a communications satellite Wednesday evening from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. Minutes later, the leftover booster landed on an offshore barge.
More photos from today’s Falcon 9 launch and first stage landing → https://t.co/095WHX44BX pic.twitter.com/ZWzr7kWJsZ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 12, 2017
Successfully placed in orbit, the dual-mission satellite will be shared by Colorado-based EchoStar and SES, a Luxembourg company.
Early Monday, a Falcon soared from Southern California with Iridium satellites. That first stage also was recovered.
Successful deployment of EchoStar 105/SES-11 to geostationary transfer orbit confirmed. pic.twitter.com/gRA7Rb1MM4
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 11, 2017
The booster launched Wednesday was previously used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station for NASA. It’s only the third time this shuttle has reflown a rocket on an orbital mission.
Project chief Elon Musk is working to lower launch costs by reusing rockets. He’s aiming for Mars.