SpaceX Launches 10 Satellites From Falcon 9 Rocket, Sticks Booster Landing At Sea
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) -- SpaceX says its first launch of a Falcon 9 rocket since a fiery September accident has successfully placed a constellation of satellites in orbit.
The two-stage rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, at 9:54 a.m. Saturday to place 10 satellites into orbit for Iridium Communications Inc.
About nine minutes after liftoff, the first stage returned to Earth and landed successfully on a barge in the Pacific Ocean south of Vandenberg.
SpaceX officials say they identified all possible causes of the Sept. 1 accident and took corrective action. The company's rockets were grounded during the investigation.
The return to flight is an important step for SpaceX, a California-based company that has about 70 launches in line, worth more than $10 billion.
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