According to Space.com’s report, the GOES-U satellite was launched from Launch Complex 39A of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) of the US space agency NASA. This satellite was aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. This was the 10th launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket. As soon as the rocket took off, the people present there applauded.
But the most important moment came 8 minutes later, when, as planned, both the side boosters of the Heavy Lifter returned to Earth after taking the satellite to the designated height. Both the boosters landed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which is next to KSC.
It can be seen in the video that two boosters are descending one after the other and land at the designated place.
This homecoming created a very different experience for spectators than the launch of GOES-U’s three sibling satellites, which all went into space on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, which is not reusable. Such efforts help SpaceX reduce the cost of any launch. It saves money by using these boosters in multiple launches.
Dakota Smith, a satellite analyst and communicator on the mission, said it was incredible. The GOES satellite has been a huge part of my career, passion and hobby. Seeing a satellite go up and knowing we will continue to get amazing images means a lot to me.
