Brevard County

‘Magnifique’: SpaceX launches rocket carrying French satellite from Florida’s Space Coast

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket early Thursday morning from Florida’s Space Coast.

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The rocket lifted a French telecommunications satellite into orbit at 1:22 a.m. from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Watch: SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

The launch was originally set for 11:30 p.m. Wednesday but was delayed for nearly two hours.

Photos: SpaceX launches rocket carrying French satellite from Florida’s Space Coast

SpaceX said the delay was needed to finish all of its pre-flight checks.

Read: SpaceX ferries astronauts back to Earth after half-year away

Less than 10 minutes after launch, the rocket’s first stage landed on a SpaceX droneship in the Atlantic.

SpaceX plans to launch another Falcon 9 rocket next week.

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