In Photos: SpaceX's Fantastic Nighttime Launch of SAOCOM-1 & Rocket Landing!

Ascent

SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SAOCOM-1A satellite rises into the sky above California’s Vandenberg Air Force Station on Oct. 7, 2018.

One Up, One Down

SpaceX

This amazing view shows the upward path of the two-stage SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched Argentina’s SAOCOM-1A radar-imaging satellite from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Station on Oct. 7, 2018 (left) and the downward path of the booster’s first stage, which aced its touchdown back at Vandenberg less than 8 minutes after liftoff (right).

Stay on Target!

SpaceX

The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket made history with this landing at Landing Zone 4 at California’s Vandenberg Air Force Station on Oct. 7, 2018. The touchdown marked SpaceX's first-ever West Coast landing of a Falcon 9 rocket.

Touchdown!

SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage stands atop Landing Zone 4 after successfully landing on the pad on Oct. 7, 2018 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It was SpaceX's first-ever West Coast landing.

Landing Zone 4

SpaceX

An overhead view of SpaceX's newest rocket landing site, Landing Zone 4, near its West Coast launchpad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. SpaceX will attempt the first landing at the site on Oct. 7, 2018. It will be SpaceX's first land-based landing on the West Coast.

SpaceX's Landing Zone 4

SpaceX

A look at Landing Zone 4, SpaceX's newest rocket landing site, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches SAOCOM-1A

SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SAOCOM-1A Earth-observation satellite launches from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on Oct. 7, 2018.

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Mike Wall
Senior Space Writer

Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, "Out There," was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Michael on Twitter.