Incredible footage has shown Elon Musk’s SpaceX launching 64 satellites into orbit in a record-breaking mission.
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from California on Monday carrying 64 small satellites into low orbit around the earth in an amazing feat.
The company hailed the mission as the largest ever “rideshare” by a US-based rocket.
The mission, dubbed SSO-A, also marked the third voyage to space for the same Falcon 9 rocket - another milestone for SpaceX's cost-cutting reusable rocket technology.
Remarkable pictures and videos have shown the Falcon blasting off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base at about 10.35 local time, carrying satellites from 34 different companies, government agencies and universities.
SpaceX said the mission was "one of the most complex and intricate endeavours" for Seattle-based startup Spaceflight, the ride-share company that arranged passage for each satellite maker.
The mission comes just days after India fired a rocket carrying 31 satellites into space.
After the launch, the Falcon 9's first-stage booster returned to earth as planned, landing on a ship off the coast of southern California, according to a live video of the flight.
However, the Falcon 9's payload fairing - an enclosure that protected the satellites during launch - missed a landing net on the barge and ended up in the ocean.
Mr Musk, SpaceX’s chief executive officer, tweeted following the mission.
He said: “Falcon fairing halves missed the net, but touched down softly in the water.
“Plan is to dry them out and launch again. Nothing wrong with a little swim.”
