(AP/KSBY) – A SpaceX rocket carrying 64 small satellites has lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base with a first stage that has been used twice before.
The Falcon 9 blasted off at 10:34 a.m. Monday, arcing over the Pacific Ocean as it headed toward space.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/RHH9fWyYoH
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 3, 2018
A few minutes after launch, the rocket’s first stage performed a so-called “boost back maneuver” and successfully landed on an unmanned ship in the Pacific.
Falcon 9 first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship—completing this rocket booster’s third launch and landing this year. pic.twitter.com/DXqT7KH9sM
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 3, 2018
The first stage was previously launched and recovered during missions in May and August. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has made reusability a major goal.
The payload of the Spaceflight SSO-A SmallSat Express includes satellites from 34 organizations in 17 countries. It’s the largest single rideshare mission from a U.S.-based launch vehicle in history. Full deployment into low Earth orbit is expected to take six hours.
