The Latest: SpaceX launches first rocket since explosion

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

About nine minutes later, the first stage returned to Earth and landed successfully on a barge in the Pacific Ocean south of Vandenberg.

Riders gameday

Huskies alumni ready for historic pre-season return to Griffiths Stadium with Riders

20m ago

Insects

A wet spring could bring early mosquitoes in Saskatchewan

57m ago

defence pact

Pentagon gave Canada classified paper detailing defence priorities

4h ago

SpaceX officials say they identified all possible causes of the Sept. 1 accident and took corrective action. The company’s rockets were grounded during the investigation.

The return to flight is an important step for SpaceX, a California-based company that has about 70 launches in line, worth more than $10 billion.

___

9:34 a.m.

SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon 9 rocket for the first time since a fireball engulfed a similar rocket on a Florida launch pad more than four months ago.

The two-stage rocket is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on Saturday morning to place 10 satellites into orbit for Iridium Communications Inc.

SpaceX officials believe they have identified all possible causes of the Sept. 1 accident and taken corrective action.

The return to flight is an important step for SpaceX, a California-based company that has about 70 launches in line, worth more than $10 billion.

SpaceX also intends to try to land the rocket’s first stage on a barge in the Pacific Ocean south of Vandenberg about eight minutes after liftoff. It has had six previous successful landings.

The Associated Press