SpaceX successfully launched their CRS-13 mission to the International Space Station today marking the return to flight for Launch Complex 40 (LC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). The launch was delayed a couple of days to allow SpaceX time to resolve an issue with particles in the 2nd stage fuel system.
This launch also marked the first time that SpaceX had used a flight-proven booster for a NASA CRS mission, the booster 10XX.2 previously launched the CRS-11 mission in June 2017. This was the second time a flight-proven Dragon capsule was used, having previously flown on the CRS-6 mission in April 2015.
This was SpaceX’s 17th launch for 2017 and the 45th flight of Falcon 9, and the 14th landing with 20 overall.
As much as I want to replace rockets with different technology, I still enjoy watching them launch and now landing back for re-use. I started working on missile ranges tracking these birds 57 years ago, enjoyed watching them lift-off back then, and still watch them in my backyard today.