SpaceX Launches 10 Satellites Into Space Aboard Falcon 9 Rocket
MALIBU (CBSLA) — In a streak of red and green, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched early Wednesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base to bring 10 satellites into space.
The launch happened just before 4:40 a.m. and was visible from Southern California's coastal areas. The satellites launched are part of Iridium's in-development $3 billion array that will eventually include 75 satellites supporting a worldwide voice and data communications network.
SpaceX says the first stage booster landed successfully on a drone ship, in spite of challenging weather conditions.
At least one more launch is planned to complete the Iridium array, but SpaceX will launch again before then. The Hawthorne-based company has another launch scheduled for next Thursday to carry an Indonesian satellite into space.
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