Hawthorne-Based SpaceX Successfully Launches Commercial Satellite

Hawthorne-based rocket maker Space Exploration Technologies Corp. successfully lofted a communications satellite Monday in its first launch of the new year.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocked blasted off from Cape Canaveral, FL, at 2:06 p.m. Pacific time to place the THAICOM 6 satellite into orbit. After reaching orbit, the craft's second stage was scheduled to restart to place the satellite in a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The event marked SpaceX's second launch of a communications satellite in as many months. In December the SES-8 satellite was lofted to geosynchronous transfer orbit. 

SpaceX also has a contract to re-supply the International Space Station for NASA and is building a version of its Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule to carry astronauts.