SpaceX describes its Falcon 9 as the first orbital class rocket with reflight ability. A two-stage rocket capable of reliably transporting satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit.
The first Falcon 9 launch was on June 4th, 2010, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Since that time, there have been 69 total launches.
Recently, in a milestone accomplishment, the Falcon 9 propelled the Crew Dragon into space. The Dragon then separated from the Falcon en route to its final destination, the International Space Station. After successfully docking and staying for 5 days, the Crew Dragon disconnected from the I.S.S. and landed off the coast of Florida.
The Most Beautiful Falcon 9 Launch
If you need proof that science and engineering can go hand-in-hand with artwork, look no further.
The Falcon 9 launch shown below occurred on October 7th, 2018, at Vandenberg Air Force Base. It could be seen perfectly from Los Angeles, where the footage beneath was captured.
These spectacular visuals are a result of the rocket nearing the highest part of earth’s atmosphere. Due to the extreme temperature, the exhaust compresses and turns into ice crystals. On this particular occasion, timing was just right for the setting Los Angeles sun to light up the frozen particles. The result is an astonishing display of color.
