SpaceX Falcon 9 Back In Action After September 2016 Explosion; Successfully Delivers Iridium Satellite Fleet To Orbit
SpaceX Falcon 9 executed a flawless launch on January 14, 2017 and successfully delivered its payload to orbit. The SpaceX Falcon first stage booster was recovered afterwards at the west coast of California. This success comes after the disastrous test launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket last September 2016.
According to CNN, SpaceX Falcon 9 delivered a fleet of advanced Iridium NEXT mobile voice and data relay satellites in low orbit. While the primary mission is to deliver the satellites, SpaceX took a giant leap with the smooth recovery of its first stage booster after the booster landed right on the spot of the pre-positioned sea-fairing landing platform, a drone ship called "Just Read the Instructions."
The first stage booster landing marked the seventh time that the space exploration company founded by TESLA chief Elon Musk have safely landed a rocket. However, this launch marks the first flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 after one of its rockets exploded on the launch-pad in Florida back in September 2016 during a routine test.
Speaking with CNBC, Elon Musk hints that the cause of the September 2016 SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion was something "never been encountered before in the history of rocketry" and it was "the toughest puzzle" they've ever had to solve. And solved it they have.
BBC reports that Iridium has booked six more missions with SpaceX to deliver more satellites in orbit within the next 18 months. SpaceX has a long queue of customers, including NASA, the USA military, and other commercial companies that are waiting for their ride to orbit.
Next for SpaceX Falcon 9 is a mission to launch the ExhoStar 23 communications satellite for EchoStar Corp on January 26. 2017. On February 8, 2017 SpaceX will launch its 12th Dragon spacecraft for a resupply mission to the International Space Station.