The Falcon 9 booster lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Air Force Base, carrying the latest batch of satellites for Iridium Communications. In June SpaceX made a similar trip, landing the Falcon 9 on a platform in the Pacific Ocean. This launch marked the end of 2017 for SpaceX, which has contracted to replace Iridium’s system with 75 new satellites.
The Final SpaceX Launch of 2017 Lights Up the LA Sky
In December 2017, as most Angelenos and their out-of-town guests were preparing for the Christmas weekend, SpaceX, Elon Musk’s advanced rockets and spacecraft company, launched their final Falcon 9 of 2017, leaving the Southern California sky shining and sparkling.