Liftoff! SpaceX Falcon 9 Soars
On March 4, 2016, the private spaceflight company SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket into orbit carrying the SES-9 communications satellite. See photos from the launch, as well as an attempted rocket landing. HERE: The Falcon 9 rocket launches the SES-9 communications satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Nears Landing Pad
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket booster stage appears to near its drone ship landing target (right) in this still image from a SpaceX launch webcast hosted by mission integration engineer Lauren Lyons on March 4, 2016. During the mission, SpaceX launched the SES-9 satellite as its primary mission, with the rocket landing as an experimental test.
SES-9 Satellite In Orbit
The SES-9 communications satellite separates from the upper stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket in this view from an onboard camera beamed to Earth during a live webcast of the successful launch on March 4, 2016.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket on the Launch Pad
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch the SES-9 communications satellite on Feb. 28, 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Inside SpaceX's Risky Fly-back Booster Rocket Landing (Infographic)
In a first for space flight, SpaceX will attempt to fly its Falcon 9 booster rocket to a safe landing aboard an offshore platform. See how SpaceX's rocket landing tests work in this Space.com infographic.
SES-9 Mission Patch
SpaceX mission patch for the SES-9 mission.
SES-9 Satellite on Launch Pad
A SpaceX Falcon 9 stands ready to launch the SES-9 satellite from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Image released Feb. 23, 2016.
SES-9 Satellite Ready to Launch
A SpaceX Falcon 9 stands ready to launch the SES-9 satellite from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Image released Feb. 23, 2016.
SES-9 Launch Weather Prediction
SpaceX posted a photo on the afternoon of Feb. 24, 2016, and wrote: "Weather remains 60% go for today's 6:46pm ET launch."
SES-9 Satellite, Falcon 9 Rocket on the Pad
The SES-9 communications satellite sits atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida ahead of a planned Feb. 28, 2016 launch.
SES-9 Launch at Cape Canaveral
The Falcon 9 rocket launches the SES-9 communications satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on March 4, 2016.
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