SpaceX launches Nilesat 301 satellite, recovers Falcon 9 first stage

SpaceX on Wednesday launched a communications satellite and recovered its Falcon 9 rocket at sea.

Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying a Nilesat 301 satellite at 5:04 p.m. on Wednesday.

The rocket's first stage booster returned to earth about 8 minutes and 45 seconds after launch and touched down on SpaceX's Just Read the Instructions droneship, which was positioned off the coast of Florida.

Nilesat 301, a multi-purpose broadcasting satellite owned and operated by Egyptian company Nilesat, was deployed at about 5:37 p.m.

It will operate in geostationary orbit, delivering television, radio and Internet signals to customers in North Africa and the Middle East while working alongside and eventually replacing Nilesat 201, which is expected to be retired in 2028.

Wednesday's launch marked SpaceX's first geostationary transfer orbit mission of 2022 and the seventh successful launch and landing of Falcon 9's first stage.

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