(Photo: SpaceX)

The second half of its 2018 launch schedule early Sunday with the successful delivery of a Canadian telecommunications satellite into orbit of the Cape Canaveral Air Station – already the 13th launch of the year of the company. [1965] 9004] The mission was the first of two in less than a month for Ottawa-based Telesat, and the first of four SpaceXs could fly during the same period from the East and West ranges, the next being scheduled for Wednesday morning in California .

At 1:50 Sunday, July 22, a 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket was fired. nine Merlin main engines to roar from Launch Complex 40 at the opening hour of a four-hour window

Less than 33 minutes later, after two burns from the floor the rocket, the Telstar 19 Vantage satellite of more than 15,500 pounds Previously, about eight and a half minutes after takeoff, the Falcon 9's first-stage propeller fell to a first landing on the tail on the bridge. ; equator. a SpaceX spacecraft stationed in the Atlantic Ocean

[ Launch schedule: Rocket launches and landings in Florida]

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The booster – the 26th SpaceX landed – sh back to Port Canaveral within three or four days.

Sunday's mission opened a new phase in SpaceX's push to steal reusable rockets again and again.

This was the second flight by the latest version of the Falcon 9, which SpaceX calls Block 5.

The company's CEO, Elon Musk, expects the improved thruster to fly at least 10 times with a minimum of refurbishment between missions. The previous version, block 4, was limited to two flights

The new thruster was launched for the first time in May and was followed by three occasions of old rockets that are no longer available.

The flight marked the beginning of an era when the same rockets would be used for years to come, including those charged with transporting astronauts to the International Space Station in a year or two.

Falcon 9 rockets already launch unmanned cargo missions The Telstar 19 Vantage satellite, built by SSL based in California, will provide high-speed broadband Internet and broadcasting services from Brazil to NASA, from from an orbital pole at 63 degrees west longitude. "Telstar 19 Vantage will also be able to provide Internet connectivity to those in rural areas and in remote areas, and even coverage on the North Atlantic Ocean, which is very important when there," said Brian Mahlstedt, an engineer at SpaceX, during the company's webcast. "In addition to being able to relax and enjoy a move in flight or check your emails from 35 000 feet, aircraft crews and maintenance crews can also benefit from this in-flight connectivity. "

The spacecraft, Telstar 18 Vantage, is targeting the launch of a Falcon 9 next month and will serve customers in Asia.

SpaceX launches 10 Iridium Communications satellites from California, Aug. 2. Launch of an Indonesian communications satellite in Cape Town

On August 6, United Launch Alliance aims to launch Parker Solar Probe of the NASA from Complex 37 aboard its most powerful rocket, the Delta IV Heavy

at 321-242-3668 or [email protected]. And follow on Twitter @flatoday_jdean and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SpaceTeamGo.

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