Launch of 14th SpaceX Falcon 9 with CRS-5, First Barge Landing for 1st Stage
- 9 years ago
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has successfully launched on it's 14th mission carrying the Dragon CRS-5 Spacecraft full of cargo for NASA and the International Space Station. Liftoff occurred at 09:47 UTC from the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Dragon is carrying a record breaking 1.8 tonns of cargo inside, after engineers crammed even more inside to make up for some lost cargo on the Antares failure back in October. Launch was delayed from January 6th due to an issue in the second stage.
Whilst Dragon will continue into orbit after second stage separation, eyes will be on the first stage as it will attempt to land on a refitted barge SpaceX are calling the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship for the first time ever in a hope to recover the entire stage intact and bring it back to land.
Whilst Dragon will continue into orbit after second stage separation, eyes will be on the first stage as it will attempt to land on a refitted barge SpaceX are calling the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship for the first time ever in a hope to recover the entire stage intact and bring it back to land.