Video: Deployment of the Hispasat 30W-6 satellite from the Falcon 9 rocket

The Hispasat 30W-6 satellite, set to begin a 15-year telecommunications mission, deployed from the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket around 33 minutes after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Tuesday.

The powerful commercial telecom craft rode SpaceX’s 50th Falcon 9 rocket flight into geostationary transfer orbit following a liftoff from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 40 launch pad at 12:33 a.m. EST (0533 GMT) Tuesday.

Tuesday’s launch marked the 50th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket, and the fourth Falcon 9 flight of 2018. SpaceX has also logged one launch of the powerful triple-body Falcon Heavy rocket this year, bringing the company’s tally for 2018 to five missions.

Read our Mission Status Center for details on the flight.

Email the author.

Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.