SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base early Monday morning.
- Falcon 9 launches Hispasat 30W-6
- No attempt made to land first stage
- SEE BELOW: Watch the Falcon 9 launch ▼
- RELATED: New date set for rescheduled Falcon 9 launch
At around 12:33 a.m., the Falcon 9 launched the Hispasat 30W-6, a communications satellite for Spain.
On board is the largest geostationary satellite that SpaceX has ever launched, about the size of a city bus.
SpaceX gave some information about its payload and explained why there was no famous landing of Falcon 9's first stage.
"The Hispasat 30W-6 satellite, weighing about six metric tons, is the third largest geostationary satellite SpaceX has flown to date. The satellite was deployed approximately 33 minutes after launch. SpaceX did not attempt to land Falcon 9's first stage after launch due to unfavorable weather conditions in the recovery area off the Atlantic Coast," SpaceX explained.
This is the 50th launch for the Falcon 9. It was originally scheduled for a Feb. 25 launch.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted that he is very proud of the team.
Very proud of the SpaceX team! Can’t believe it’s been fifty Falcon 9 launches already. Just ten years ago, we couldn’t even reach orbit with little Falcon 1.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 6, 2018
Watch the Falcon 9 launch