Photos: SpaceX Launches Thaicom 8 Satellite, Lands Rocket at Sea

A Rocket Returns

SpaceX

On May 27, 2016, the private spaceflight company SpaceX launched the Thaicom 8 satellite into orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket, then successfully landed the Falcon 9 booster's first stage (seen here) on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. See photos from the awesome launch and landing here in this Space.com gallery.

GO for lanidng

SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket first stage comes in for a landing on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" after successfully launching the Thaicom 8 satellite into orbit on May 27, 2016.

Touchdown

SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket first stage comes in for a landing on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" after successfully launching the Thaicom 8 satellite into orbit on May 27, 2016.

Fiery Descent

SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket first stage comes in for a landing on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" after successfully launching the Thaicom 8 satellite into orbit on May 27, 2016.

Beautiful Day for a Launch

SpaceX

A wide-angle look at SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launching the Thaicom 8 satellite on May 27, 2016.

Next Stop, Earth

SpaceX

The first stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket comes back down to Earth for an ocean landing on May 27 after launching the Thaicom 8 communications satellite.

Thaicom 8 Satellite Deploys

SpaceX

The Thaicom 8 communications satellite deploys from the second stage of a SpaceX rocket on May 27, 2016.

Lanidng Success!

SpaceX

The Falcon 9 rocket landing marked SpaceX's third consecutive drone ship landing at sea and fourth landing in all.

Homeward Bound

SpaceX

The leaning first stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket nears port in Florida on June 2, 2016.

Welcome Home

SpaceX

The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Thaicom 8 communications satellite comes into port in Florida on June 2, 2016.

Falcon 9 Launches Thaicom 8 Satellite, May 27, 2016

SpaceX

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifts off with the Thaicom 8 communications satellite from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on May 27, 2016.

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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.