SpaceX

SpaceX has successfully lands its flagship Falcon 9 rocket back on ground, after launching 11 next generation OG2 satellites for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication solutions provider, ORBCOMM.

After several unsuccessful attempts in the past, the US-based company has finally launched its reusable Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station launch site.

The launch has marked SpaceX’s return to flight nearly six months since the June launch.

During the previous attempt, a Falcon 9 rocket, carrying cargos to the International Space Station on behalf of NASA disintegrated into pieces, minutes after the launch.

Following the failure in June, SpaceX has upgraded Falcon 9’s design and rearranged it for a vertical landing on the ground instead of landing on the sea.

The upgrade also includes chilling of liquid oxygen to minus 340 degrees Fahrenheit, which is around 40 degrees colder than the liquid used on earlier flights.

The new design also uses kerosene fuel, cooled to 20 degrees instead of 70 degrees.

After deploying the OG2 satellites in a low-Earth orbit, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket landed back to the ground.

SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk was quoted by The New York Times as saying: "It really felt like it was right on top of us."

"SpaceX is further planning two launches next month, including a commercial satellite and an ocean science satellite for NASA."

Initially, the launch of ORBCOMM satellites was set for Sunday, but SpaceX had postponed the launch in order to improve the chances of a smooth and successful landing. SpaceX is further planning two launches next month, including a commercial satellite and an ocean science satellite for NASA.

ORBCOMM chief executive officer Marc Eisenberg said: "Today marks a significant milestone for our company. We’d like to thank our vendors and partners for their cooperation in this effort.

"I’d also like to commend the ORBCOMM team for their hard work and dedication in making our second OG2 mission a success.

"Lastly, I’d like to congratulate SpaceX on making history by landing the Falcon 9’s reusable Stage one booster from a record altitude. It’s an exciting day for all of us in the space industry."

Image: SpaceX conducts crew dragon abort test. Photo: courtesy of SpaceX