SpaceX is ready to see if a recycled rocket can be used for a second launch.
The private space company proved it can land the first stage rocket of the Flacon 9 rocket by land and by sea – now with six successes under its belt.
The next step is flying a re-used booster, or what SpaceX is calling "flight-proven." Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES says it bought a ride on the first recycled booster, launching a satellite to service parts of Latin America.
SpaceX says for that mission they’ll re-use a rocket booster that sent cargo to the International Space Station back in April. The private space company landed that booster on an unmanned drone ship at sea.
Re-usability has always been a goal of SpaceX with the hopes of lowering the cost of access to space.
“Re-launching a rocket that has already delivered spacecraft to orbit is an important milestone on the path to complete and rapid re-usability,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk thanked SES for the launch purchase on Twitter.
A recovered booster was put through the paces earlier this month at SpaceX’s testing facility in Texas.
SES and SpaceX are targeting a launch of the recycled rocket later this year.
