SpaceX successfully launched into orbit a communications satellite of SES-9 – RIA Novosti

© AP Photo / NASA / Bill Ingalls

WASHINGTON, March 5 – RIA Novosti Falcon 9 rocket successfully. placed into orbit a communications satellite of SES-9, the fate of the first stage of the launch vehicle is still unknown, according to SpaceX company.

booster of the Falcon 9 launched from the spaceport at Cape Canaveral (Florida) at 2:35 MSK . Within 31 minutes after the start of the satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle

Start succeeded in the fifth attempt:. Previously run twice canceled because of the weather and the same for technical reasons. For the Falcon 9 is the third successful launch in 2016. Earlier, in June 2015 the Falcon 9 with the Dragon crashed truck launch to the ISS.

SES-9 created by Boeing and is owned satellite operator SES. It is designed to provide communication signals in North-East Asia and Indonesia, as well as communication between ships in the Indian Ocean. It is planned that the satellite design life of work which is 15 years old, will begin work in September, when it reaches its working position in orbit at a distance of approximately 36,000 kilometers above the equator of the Earth.

SpaceX completed the task for satellite delivery, but still do not know what the fate of the first stage of the rocket, which the company intended to put on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean.

Broadcast returning to the barge of the first stage was carried out until a ball of fire, presumably the first stage of the Falcon 9 appeared in the frame, after which the video was interrupted. Information about the fate of SpaceX first stage has not yet been received.

Earlier in December, the company managed to make a successful vertical landing of the first stage to the launch site, but the three previous landing on the floating platform was a failure. SpaceX fulfills technology save the first carrier rocket stage for subsequent runs to reduce the cost of space flight.

The launch SES-9 was to take place more than six months ago, but the collapse in June of Falcon 9 rocket for sending cargo to the ISS, postponed him. So that the satellite would like to go to the operating position as soon as possible and start working, it was decided to bring it to a higher orbit.