After an abort yesterday due to a ground system issue, SpaceX's brand new Block 5 Falcon 9 rocket ignited and ascended into the sky. The Falcon 9 lifted off from SpaceX's Launch Complex 39a (LC-39a) with Bangladesh's first satellite inside the payload fairing at 4:14pm EDT.
This satellite was the very first of many to launch on SpaceX's new Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. This new and final variant version of the Falcon 9 will help aid in the goal of rapid reusability that will be capable of 10 or more re-flights with minimal refurbishment. The new rocket features retractable landing legs, titanium grid fins, and thermal protection on the interstage and landing legs. The first stage successfully landed on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You", stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Bangabandhu-1 is Bangladesh's first communications satellite. This satellite will provide Direct-to-home services, video distribution, and very small aperture terminal communications across Bangladesh. This satellite is expected to last as least 15 years.