SpaceX launches lucky no. 13 for this year [Updated]

Enlarge / The Falcon 9 rocket launching Monday has flown twice previously, including this July launch to the International Space Station. (credit: SpaceX)

7:20pm ET Monday Update: SpaceX launched its 13th rocket of the year on Monday evening from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The dual-purpose satellite was on track for insertion into a geostationary transfer orbit, and the rocket's first stage subsequently made a safe landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. This particular core has now flown three times, all in the last 5.5 months.

The successful mission likely caps off the company's launch campaign for this year, setting the stage for a busy 2020.

Original post: By some measures, SpaceX has had a relatively sedate 2019. After all, the company has launched a mere dozen rockets so far this year, in comparison to a record-setting 2018, with 22 overall missions. It should add one more flight to that tally on Monday, with the launch of a large, 6.8-ton communications satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (see details below).

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