Falcon 9
Air Force requirements will keep SpaceX from landing Falcon 9 booster after GPS launch
The demands of launching the first in an upgraded line of U.S. Air Force GPS navigation satellites, including a late load of extra fuel for the spacecraft and a military policy of reserving fuel to eliminate space junk, will keep SpaceX from recovering the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket following liftoff Thursday from Cape Canaveral, according to mission managers.
Live view of the Falcon 9 at launch complex 40 (members only)
SpaceX is preparing for its second Falcon 9 rocket launch in two days, with liftoff of a space station-bound Dragon supply ship from Cape Canaveral planned at 1:16 p.m. EST (1816 GMT) Wednesday. The Falcon 9’s first stage will target a landing back at Cape Canaveral around eight minutes after launch.