On May 1, SpaceX succeeded in its first mission for the U.S. military after receiving certification to launch satellites for the Air Force in 2015.
After launching the NROL-76 — a secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office — atop its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the rocket’s first stage touched back down at the company’s landing pad, Landing Zone 1. While not much is known about the mission’s purpose or where the satellite will orbit, one thing’s for sure — watching the Falcon 9 in action is incredible and oddly mesmerizing.
But don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself in this awesome footage!
Watch the moment Falcon 9 first launches and then separates from the satellite below.
Here’s another angle of the landing. So cool!
(via The Verge)