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Elon Musk's SpaceX has made history this by sending its first recycled rocket back into space.
In what was billed as a 'revolutionary' achievement for space technology, the firm's Falcon 9 blasted off from Cape Canaveral at 6:27 pm ET (11:27 pm BST), before landing back on the firm's drone ship for a second time.
It is the first time the firm has reused a booster, which previously sent food and supplies to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
This propelled the unmanned Dragon cargo ship to the ISS last year, before returning to an upright landing on an ocean platform.
SpaceX hopes that by repeating this success it will prove the long-term viability of reusable rockets - which could dramatically costs and waste in the space industry.
Its goal is to send the SES-10 satellite - built by Airbus Defence and Space - into orbit around the planet.
The satellite will be used to provide direct-to-home television and high-speed data services across Latin America and the Caribbean.
SES was an early supporter of SpaceX, the rocket builder's first commercial customer and the first to sign up for a ride on a 'flight proven' booster.