In Photos: SpaceX Launches, Lands 1st Reused Falcon 9 Rocket
Falcon 9 and SES-10 Rise Into the Sky
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and the SES-10 communications satellite rise into the sky above NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 30, 2017.
Falcon 9 and SES-10 Blast Off
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launches the SES-10 communications satellite on March 30, 2017. The liftoff was the first ever to use a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage.
Falcon 9 Flies
The Falcon 9's "flight-proven" first stage carries it across the sky, gaining altitude before handing off to the second stage.
First Stage Separates
The Falcon 9 rocket releases its first stage, which begins to head back to Earth. (You can see the stage on the left of the righthand image.)
First Stage Coming Home
Falcon 9's first stage navigates back down.
Used Falcon 9 First Stage Lands Again
The first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket comes in for a landing on a robotic "drone ship" on March 30, 2017 — the second successful landing for the booster, which also touched down during an orbital mission in April 2016.
X Marks the Spot for Falcon 9 1st Stage
X marks the spot for a used Falcon 9 first stage, which made its second drone-ship landing on March 30, 2017.
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Falcon 9 First Stage Nearly There
The used Falcon 9 first stage just before making history with its second landing.
Falcon 9 Lands on Drone Ship
The used first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket settles onto the deck of the "drone ship" Of Course I Still Love You on March 30, 2017.
Falcon 9 First Stage Has Landed
The Falcon 9's first stage successfully touched down on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You."
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