SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 9 rocket for the 50th time
What's the story
In yet another high-profile liftoff, SpaceX has launched its reusable Falcon 9 rocket for the 50th time from its launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. With the payload representing a milestone as well, the Falcon 9 carried the Hispasat 30W-6 satellite for Spain, which is so far the largest satellite to be delivered to the Earth's Geostationary Transfer Orbit.
Twitter Post
Falcon 9 carried the largest geostationary satellite into orbit
Falcon 9 flight 50 launches tonight, carrying Hispasat for Spain. At 6 metric tons and almost the size of a city bus, it will be the largest geostationary satellite we’ve ever flown.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2018
Impressive Feat
Falcon 9 reached 50th launch milestone faster than Atlas V
Notably, SpaceX's Falcon 9 has reached the 50th launch milestone in eight years, faster than NASA's Atlas V rocket that took over a decade for the same. The rocket has been altered over the years to keep up with an optimized design. Its reusability enables more rapid turnarounds between launches and allows clients to operate on reduced costs for putting satellites into orbit.
Information
The Falcon 9 rocket will not be recovered post launch
The communications satellite being carried into orbit by Falcon 9 will reportedly serve portions of "Europe, North Africa, and the Americas." SpaceX won't be attempting to recover the rocket this time due to unfavorable weather conditions off the Florida coast in the Atlantic Ocean.
Way Forward
Here are SpaceX's upcoming launches
SpaceX has back-to-back launches lined up. Its next launch is slated for March 9 when the private space agency will send a whopping 10 mobile communication satellites into orbit. Then on April 2, the company will launch a Falcon 9 rocket and its Dragon spacecraft towards the International Space Station (ISS) with supplies for the astronauts onboard.