Watch CBS News

SpaceX Satellite Shares Space Mission With Colorado Company

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.

falcon 9 (credit spacex facebook page)
Falcon 9 before launch on October 11 (credit: SpaceX Facebook Page)

Minutes later, the leftover booster landed on an offshore barge.

Successfully placed in orbit, the dual-mission satellite will be shared by Colorado-based EchoStar and SES, a Luxembourg company.

Early Monday, a SpaceX Falcon soared from Southern California with Iridium satellites. That first stage also was recovered.

The booster launched Wednesday was previously used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station for NASA. It's only the third time SpaceX has reflown a rocket on an orbital mission.

SpaceX chief Elon Musk is working to lower launch costs by reusing rockets. He's aiming for Mars.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.