SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launches After Multiple Setbacks

SpaceX has successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket after previous setbacks, and though all went well with the launch itself, plans to recover the booster had to be scrapped due to severe weather at the landing site. This follows previous planned launch dates which were delayed repeatedly — in a tweet, Elon Musk said that they could not "delay any longer". This marks a successful launch of the DSCOVR probe, which is destined to orbit nearly 1 million miles in space.

SpaceX first tried to launch the Falcon 9 on Sunday, but had to be stopped due to an issue with Air Force radar. The next day another attempt was made, but was likewise halted, that time over a technical glitch. Yet another plan attempt was made, but again delayed, and that led to today when the launch was successfully carried out despite the recovery setback.

The company has hoped to recover its booster for reuse, something that will help keep costs down. That task already faced an uphill battle due to one of the four engines failing, and then severe weather in the Atlantic where it would be recovered meant that the latter part of the plan wouldn't be successful.

Still, despite the lack of one engine and the severe weather, the rocket managed to land within 10 meters of the recovery site, and according to Musk, it did so "nicely vertical". This indicates a favorable outcome when such an effort is attempted in the future, hopefully under better weather conditions.

SOURCE: Bloomberg