NASA mission launches with Dragon as Falcon 9 first stage lands

NASA's 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission launched with the Dragon spacecraft from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage landed at Landing Zone 40, while Dragon was chasing the International Space Station.

The launch site for NASA's 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission, the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon spacecraft was Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission's payload was Dragon.

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is also listed as the launch site for CRS-35.

The listed orbit for both the Falcon 9 and Dragon was low Earth orbit. The mission, the rocket and the spacecraft were all reported as chasing the International Space Station.

A timelapse video was captured from Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. In the footage, the International Space Station enters from the top of the frame around 8 seconds in and moves down toward the horizon.

The Falcon 9 includes first and second stages, and the flight included separation of those stages. In the video, the first stage's boost back, re-entry and landing burns begin around 20 seconds in, while the second stage follows the station toward the horizon. The exhaust plume appears as a jellyfish growing while it catches the rising Sun.

The Falcon 9 first stage completed a successful landing at Landing Zone 40.

For readers tracking launch services, the facts identify a NASA mission using Falcon 9, Dragon and Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The successful first-stage landing at Landing Zone 40, together with the stage separation and burns, gives a detailed launch and landing sequence.