SpaceX, Elon Musk's private spaceflight company, will attempt to launch not one but two communications satellites to orbit high above Earth Wednesday.
After SpaceX gets those satellites off the ground, the company will attempt to successfully land their fifth Falcon 9 first-stage booster back on Earth after flying to space.
You can watch the launch from Florida and landing live in the window below or directly from SpaceX. Launch is expected at 10:29 a.m. ET.
Don't be alarmed if the video cuts out right as the booster comes in for its landing on the drone ship. If the landing works, the feed should come back up right after the booster touches down on the barge.
This disruption occurs because the rocket's vibrations can disrupt the satellite uplink from the barge.
If successful, this will mark the fourth time SpaceX has landed a booster on a drone ship in the ocean. The first booster was brought back to land in 2015.
These tests are designed to look at the feasibility of re-using rockets after launching missions.
Today, rockets are basically thrown away after launch, burning up in Earth's atmosphere, but landing boosters back on the planet and then refurbishing them to fly again could vastly change the cost of launching to space. SpaceX sees this as a primary advantage of their business strategy.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
TopicsElon Musk