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SpaceX Successfully Launches SES-9 Satellite

Accepted submission by takyon at 2016-02-25 23:44:37
Science

SpaceX has successfully launched SES-9, a geostationary satellite for the satellite communications company SES [wikipedia.org], [AT AROUND 6:46:17 PM ET (23:46 GMT)].

SpaceX will also attempt to land the first stage [newsledge.com] of Falcon 9 on its drone barge, but is not confident [spacex.com] of success due to the velocity required:

This mission is going to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit. Following stage separation, the first stage of the Falcon 9 will attempt an experimental landing on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship. Given this mission's unique GTO profile, a successful landing is not expected.

SES-8 was launched back in December 2013, and was the first geostationary satellite to be launched with a SpaceX rocket. SES will attempt to launch seven more satellites between now and 2017, although SpaceX will not launch all of them.

NASA has ordered five more International Space Station resupply missions [spacenews.com] from SpaceX, valued at around $700 million.


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