On Monday at 3:34 p.m., SpaceX had a successful launch of the Koreasat-5A satellite from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone-ship, stationed some 300 miles away in the Atlantic Ocean.
Video footage shows the Falcon 9’s base engulfed in flames as it lands on the drone-ship. The video feed momentarily cuts off as the base of the rocket begins entering the frame, however, moments later, the feed comes back on with the booster rocket standing on the ship, its bottom still on fire.
“A little toasty, but stage one is certainly still intact on the drone ship,” SpaceX lead mechanical engineer John Federspiel said during launch commentary, according to Space.com.
Koreasat-5A communications satellite
The Koreasat-5A is a commercial communications satellite that was launched into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). The satellite is owned by KT Sat, South Korea’s only satellite service provider. Manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, Koreasat-5A will provide Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast, broadband, and backhaul services with its Ku-Band capacity.
Koreasat-5A will replace Koreasat 5, expanding KT Sat’s coverage across Asia and the Middle East. And unlike other satellites in the company’s fleet, the Koreasat 5A will provide maritime coverage of the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and the East China Sea.
SpaceX closer to reusable rockets
Back in April, with yet another successful launch and recovery of a Falcon 9 booster rocket, the discussion over the cost of rocket launches heated up, with United Launch Alliance (ULA) dropping the cost of its workhorse Atlas 5 rocket flights by about one-third.
Monday’s rocket landing was the 19th that SpaceX has successfully pulled off during orbital launches. These successful recoveries of booster rockets are all part of Elon Musk’s plan to cut the cost of spaceflight by developing reusable rockets and space vehicles.
And while Monday’s launch used a new Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX has successfully re-flown three of these landed Falcon 9 first stages, as well as one Dragon cargo capsule. And SpaceX’s next launch of a supply vehicle to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA will feature a pre-flown Dragon.
