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WATCH: SpaceX launch and land another Falcon 9 rocket

Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX didn’t expect to achieve it earlier this morning, but the company is getting really good at landing its own Falcon 9 rockets on floating barges.

The last launch of a Falcon 9 rocket involved the delivery of some payload to the International Space Station, but this morning’s launch saw a Japanese satellite being put into orbit almost 36 000km above earth.

And the launch was a good excuse for SpaceX to attempt another landing one of its custom-built drone barges in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, after the first stage separated from the satellite-delivery part.

Luckily for us, there is an awesome video with running commentary from the SpaceX team regarding the launch, and it is almost funny to hear the team’s laughter as the rocket touches down in a haze of flame and smoke – which no one expected it to.

This launch was different than before, as the distance of the Japanese satellite’s orbit is further than what it normally undertakes, leaving the rocket with less fuel to make it back and stick the landing. Even Musk described the potential landing as “hot and fast”.

The company has been experimenting with landing rockets for some time, as it is trying to make space launches as cheap as possible. If a Falcon 9 rocket can be launched and landed, the rockets can be re-used for future launches, which obviously drive down the cost.

Check out the video below to see the entire show, but pay close attention to the right-hand corner of the screen. There you will see the altitude and speed, and it’s astonishing to see the acceleration of the rocket, reaching supersonic speeds in a matter of minutes.

About 10 minutes into the launch, the rocket is sitting at a very impressive 29 000km/h.

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