MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Falcon 9 rocket is expected to carry the SES-9 telecommunications satellite into orbit. The satellite is to provide broadcasting and other services in Asia, Indonesia and the Indian Ocean.
The launch is expected to happen in an approximately 1,5-hour launch window between 2.46 a.m. [07:00 GMT] and 4.23 a.m. local time [09:23 GMT], according to SpaceX. The satellite will be deployed approximately 31 minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX is planning to attempt a Falcon 9 drone ship landing after the launch.
In December 2015, SpaceX succeeded in making its Falcon 9 first-stage rocket land upright about 6 miles from where it was launched at Cape Canaveral, Florida, after having propelled 11 satellites into Earth's orbit. It was the first time an orbital rocket successfully completed a controlled landing on Earth.
In January 2015, SpaceX tried to land a Falcon 9 rocket on a drone ship, but the rocket toppled over and exploded.
