Falcon 9 launched SES-9, a 5,271 kg communications satellite, into a high-energy geostationary transfer orbit to expand SES's Asia-Pacific coverage. The first stage attempted a drone-ship landing but hit hard and was destroyed, an expected risk given the demanding GTO trajectory.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- GTO
- Geostationary transfer orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 5.3 T
- Flight
- 2nd
- of 24 Falcon 9 Full Thrust flights
- Date and time
- 4 March 2016, 23:35 UTC
- Rocket
- Falcon 9 Full Thrust
- Builder
- SpaceX
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
- Payload
- Communications
- International designator
- 2016-013
- Launches in 2016
- 13th of 85
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas