Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 9 Block-5 rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral

Elon Musk’s fledgling aerospace company SpaceX has bounced back from its failure to launch this week, successfully launching its Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral yesterday.

The Falcon 9, which is designed to eventually send NASA astronauts into space, was due to launch the day before, but an auto-abort was triggered one minute before take off.

However, the newly minted Block-5 edition of the Falcon was successful in its second attempt, taking off at 9.14 pm (UK time) and carrying a communications satellite for Bangladesh into orbit.

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Minutes after it blasted off, the rocket’s main-stage booster flew back to Earth safely, landing on on an unmanned platform vessel floating in the Pacific Ocean.

The latest version of the Falcon 9 has around 100 upgrades, and includes a recoverable booster that is designed to be reused at least 10 times, allowing more frequent launches at lower cost – a key to billionaire Elon Musk’s business model.

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It’s all part of Musk’s plan to make space travel accessible to everyone, and eventually allow people to land on Mars.

The successful launch of the Block-5 takes the company one step closer to satisfying NASA regulations for carrying astronauts to the International Space Station.

The achievement was hailed by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a livestream appearance from her country’s capital, Dhaka.

“Today is a very delightful and glorious day for our motherland, Bangladesh, and Bangalee nation,” she said. “With launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1, we are hoisting our national flag in the space.”