SpaceX successfully launched and landed a Falcon 9 rocket. It’s a historic event for the private space company.
About ten minutes after liftoff Monday night, a Falcon 9 rocket was safely back at Cape Canaveral.
It’s the first time the private space company SpaceX successfully recovered a spent rocket. Previous attempts to land the first stage on a barge were close – but ended in failure.
SpaceX joins the ranks of another private space company – Blue Origin – in returning a spent rocket.
The launch marks the first since an International Space Station resupply launch ended in failure back in June. Since then, SpaceX tweaked the design of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Monday’s primary mission was to deploy 11 communication satellites into orbit, which was a success.
SpaceX could begin resupply missions to the I-S-S as early as February.
