LAUNCH SUCCESS SpaceX lands its latest Falcon 9 rocket with a mission inspired by an Olympic ace

PIONEERING experts from SpaceX have carried out their latest rocket launch this time carrying a Japanese communications satellite into orbit ‘inspired’ by an Olympic gymnast.

The Falcon 9 rocket’s launch successfully sent the JCSAT-16 satellite on its way to more than 22,000 miles over the equator for Tokyo-based Sky Perfect.

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Falcon 9 rocket launches from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS

The rocket’s trail lit up the sky above the launch site

Less than 10 minutes after lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the first stage of the Falcon 9 deployed four landing legs while and touched down gently on the deck of a ship ‘parked’ 400 miles offshore.

SpaceX considers booster landings during launches to high orbits, like today’s, to have the highest degree of difficulty.

The rocket flies faster than on missions to low orbits, and is subjected to more intense heating as it drops about 75 miles back to Earth.