Return to Flight

This past June the private company, SpaceX attempted to launch a Falcon 9 rocket into space and return the rocket booster to earth to land on a barge in the ocean. That attempt ended in disaster when the rocket booster exploded.
Last night was the 2 attempt, or as they call it 'Return to Flight'.
At 8:33 pm the Falcon 9 was launched. Every safety precaution was taken including, for the first time, not allowing the media at Cape Canaveral. They had to watch miles down the road at Port Canaveral.
It was a clear night and we could see the rocket for several minutes. At 9 1/2 minutes we could just barely see the rocket booster separate and start to return to the Cape. It made a perfect landing upright on it's 4 legs. We couldn't see the landing, just the glow of it on the horizon, but we sure heard the sonic boom.
The Falcon 9 carried several communications satellites into space and thanks to the successful  landing of the rocket booster they are well on their way to having a reusable booster for the first time.

The view of the launch from our front door.

The rocket booster's return to Cape Canaveral

Seconds before landing- a truly historic event!