SpaceX launched an Earth-observing satellite into orbit on Thursday and then successfully landed the Falcon 9 booster rocket on a platform offshore.
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting launch of FORMOSAT-5 from SLC-4E at Vandenberg AFB on August 24. (Twitter/@SpaceX)
The Formosat-5 satellite is being launched for Taiwan’s National Space Organization from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The launch was scheduled for 2:51 p.m. EST and the Falcon 9 rocket landed on the platform about 10 minutes later.
According to Space.com, the Formosat-5 satellite is designed to operate in a sun-synchronous orbit about 447 miles (720 kilometers) above Earth. The satellite’s primary instrument is an Earth-observing camera system capable of 2-meter (6.5 feet) resolution in black and white, and 4-m (13 feet) resolution in color. The satellite also carries a secondary Advanced Ionospheric Probe instrument built by Taiwan’s National Central University.
RELATED:
Watch: SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center
SpaceX now valued at $21 billion
First re-flown commercial spacecraft returns from International Space Station
