SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Successfully Launches From The Cape, First Stage Nails Landing On Drone Ship

SPACE COAST DAILY TV:  Watch Live – A SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket is set to liftoff from Kennedy Space Center tonight – launch window opens at 6:53 p.m.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – SpaceX successfully launched their Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center Wednesday night.

The first stage also successfully landed on the drone ship named “Of Course I Still Love You.”

The EchoStar 105/SES-11 mission is set to provide media distribution and coverage over North America.

Launch took place at 6:53 p.m. ET.

MISSION

Watch EchoStar 105/SES-11 satellite launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The joint EchoStar and SES high-powered communications satellite will provide media distribution and coverage over North America, including Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. This will be SpaceX’s third launch of a previously flown first stage rocket.

LAUNCH VIEWING

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers the closest public viewing of launches with the purchase of a launch transportation/viewing ticket. Availability of viewing opportunities and locations is dependent upon the scheduled launch time and is subject to NASA and U.S. Air Force approval.

Launch viewing opportunities for EchoStar 105/SES-11 are available at the following locations:
Apollo/Saturn V Center, approximately 3.9 miles/6.27 kilometers from launch pad – $20 in addition to daily admission
The main visitor complex, approximately 7.5 miles/ 12 kilometers from launch pad – included with daily admission

The main visitor complex viewing area is included with daily admission. Tickets for launch viewing at Apollo/Saturn V Center are now available online. Both locations offer launch commentary, and have access to restrooms, dining and souvenirs.

After arriving and parking at the visitor complex, launch viewing/transportation ticket holders are transported by bus from the inside the main visitor complex to these special viewing areas at Kennedy Space Center, behind NASA’s gates. Security protocol requires that all ticket holders must be transported by only visitor complex tour buses to these secure facilities. Bus boarding for launch viewing/transportation ticket holders begins three hours before the scheduled launch time as it takes time to load and transport ticket holders by bus.
Update: Launch transportation tickets purchased for the previous EchoStar 105/SES-11 launch date will be honored on this new date of October 11, 2017.

HELPFUL LINKS:

Purchase Daily Admission
Purchase launch transportation tickets to the Apollo/Saturn V Center (daily admission required in addition)
Learn more about how to prepare for launch viewing as a visitor.
Visit the Payload blog’s How to Watch a Rocket Launch for frequently asked questions.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for launch updates.

LAUNCH VEHICLE:

Falcon 9 is SpaceX’s two-stage rocket manufactured to successfully transport satellites and their Dragon spacecraft into orbit.

Currently the only rocket fully designed and developed in the 21st century, Falcon 9 delivers payloads to space aboard the Dragon spacecraft or inside a composite fairing.

Safety and mission success were critical in the design of the Falcon 9 rocket. With a minimal number of separation events and nine first-stage Merlin engines, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is designed so that even if two of the engines shut down, the rocket can still operate.

In 2012, SpaceX became the first commercial company to rendezvous with the International Space Station. Although these flights have not transported crew, SpaceX continues to work toward their goal of one day carrying astronauts to space in Crew Dragon’s pressurized capsule using the Falcon 9.

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