SpaceX successfully launched a Block 5 Falcon 9 rocket early Tuesday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force station.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Watch: What you need to know about SpaceX
The rocket, which launched just after 1 a.m., carried into orbit an Indonesian satellite called Merah Putih, which will help provide internet and phone service to rural parts of southeast Asia.
According to the Kennedy Space Center, the name Merah Putih represents the red and white of the Indonesian flag.
SpaceX said the Block 5 boosts performance and reusability.
“A fully reusable vehicle has never been done before. That really is the fundamental breakthrough needed to revolutionize access to space,” Elon Musk posted on SpaceX’s website.
Last week, NASA announced that American astronauts will crew the first flight tests and missions of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon. Read more
Falcon 9 first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship. pic.twitter.com/HCRvCYopuM
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 7, 2018
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