SpaceX Rocket Puts South Korean Communications Satellite In Orbit
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- SpaceX has racked up another rocket launch, its 16th this year.
That's double last year's count, and 2017 still has two months remaining.
The unmanned Falcon rocket blasted off Monday afternoon from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, hoisting a communications satellite for the South Korean company KT SAT. This newest Koreasat will replace a failed satellite launched in 2006, and serve both Asia and the Middle East.
Once separated, the 15-story first-stage booster flew to a floating platform in the Atlantic and landed upright. The TV link of the touchdown was lost. But SpaceX confirmed success despite the choppy seas and some flames from the landed booster.
SpaceX expects to reuse the booster to save time and money.
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