SpaceX has another launch under its belt, but not another rocket landing.
The unmanned Falcon 9 rocket blasted off carrying a broadcasting satellite for Luxembourg-based company SES on Friday.
It was the fifth launch attempt over the past fortnight, after Sunday’s effort ended with an engine shutdown a split second before lift-off.
As it has tried before, SpaceX attempted to land the discarded first-stage booster, with the target a barge in the Atlantic, 400 miles offshore.
Just before touchdown 10 minutes into the flight, the TV camera on the platform cut out, drawing loud groans from the crowd gathered at company headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
More than 30 minutes later, the private company indicated the test was unsuccessful.
SpaceX said it had never expected the test to succeed given the hefty, high-flying payload.
It said the mission required that the booster fly much faster than usual and therefore burn up more fuel, leaving less for a precision touchdown.
Company chief Elon Musk reported the target altitude of more than 25,000 miles was achieved.
He wants to retrieve and refly boosters to save time and money, as usually, they just fall into the sea.
SES chief technology officer Martin Halliwell said last week that his company would have “no problem” launching a satellite on a recycled SpaceX rocket.
SpaceX is working to recover from a launch accident last summer shortly after lift-off. It hopes to resume space station deliveries for Nasa in the next month or so.
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