SpaceX makes first US military launch, then lands rocket again

MIAMI: SpaceX on Monday blasted off a secretive US government satellite, known only as NROL-76, marking the first military launch for the California-based aerospace company headed by billionaire tycoon Elon Musk.

The payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, which makes and operates spy satellites for the United States, soared into the sky atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 7.15am (1115 GMT).

About 10 minutes after launch, the scorched first stage of the rocket came back to Earth and landed upright at Cape Canaveral, marking the fourth successful solid ground landing for SpaceX.

“And we have touchdown,” a SpaceX commentator said on a live webcast as cheers broke out at mission control.

“The first stage has landed back at Landing Zone 1. Another good day for us at SpaceX. A beautiful sight to see.”

Live video of the launch showed the first and second stages of the rocket separating about two and a half minutes into the flight.

The larger portion of the rocket, known as the first stage, made a gentle arc and powered its nitrogen thrusters to guide it back to Earth.

After a fiery entry burn, the rocket set itself down steadily in the center of the91-metre circular landing zone.

Musk is leading an effort in the rocket industry to re-use costly parts rather than jettison them into the ocean after each launch.

SpaceX has already made multiple successful landings – some on land and others on floating ocean platforms, known as drone ships.

The launch was initially planned for Sunday, but was postponed in the last seconds before liftoff due to a sensor issue with the rocket, SpaceX said. The sensor in question was replaced ahead of Monday’s attempt.

Little was known about the payload, which a SpaceX commentator described only as a ‘satellite’, due to its classified nature. — AFP