SpaceX launches Canadian satellites into space

The U.S. private space company SpaceX on Wednesday launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying Canada's RADARSAT Constellation from Vandenberg Air Force Base in the state of California.

This image from video released by the U.S. Air Force shows the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Canada's Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM) from Space Launch Complex-4 in Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, June 12, 2019. [Photo: AP]

The rocket, carrying the RADARSAT Constellation which includes three Earth observation satellites, blasted off at 7:17 a.m. Pacific Time (1417 GMT) from Space Launch Complex-4E at the air force base.

About eight minutes after liftoff, Falcon 9's first stage successfully returned to land at SpaceX's Landing Zone 4 at the air force base, according to the SpaceX live broadcast.

About one hour later, the three radar-imaging satellites were deployed to orbit.

Prior to this mission, SpaceX has successfully landed a first stage booster on land 14 times and has recovered Falcon 9 first stages from 26 missions at sea using the company's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ships, according to the Hawthorne, California-headquartered company.

The three-satellite configuration will provide daily revisits of Canada's vast territory and maritime approaches, as well as daily access to any point of 90 percent of the world's surface, according to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is Canada's newest generation of radar Earth observation satellites that will contribute to a better understanding of Canada's land and natural resources. The expected lifespan of RCM is seven years for each satellite.

The mission is designed to provide effective solutions in three main areas: maritime surveillance, disaster management and ecosystem monitoring, according to the CSA.

Wednesday's launch is the second major mission that SpaceX has undertaken for the CSA. SpaceX previously carried the CSA's multipurpose CASSIOPE satellite in September 2013 on the sixth Falcon 9 mission.