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SpaceX's next Falcon 9 rocket launch is today at the Kennedy Space Center

The Falcon 9 rocket will carry Qatar's Es'hail-2 communications satellite to help connect ham radio users from Brazil to Thailand.
Photo: SpaceX

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Make sure you look up this afternoon to watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center.

Today's rocket launch will carry Qatar's Es'hail-2 communications satellite into orbit to connect amateur ham radio users from Brazil to Thailand. The satellite will also help with connectivity to the middle eastern country Qatar and its neighboring nations.

The launch is planned for 3:46 p.m. ET. 10News will carry the launch live on Facebook.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 is designed to transport satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. SpaceX said the Falcon 9 is the first "orbital class rocket capable of re-flight."

Rockets from the Falcon 9 family have had dozens of launches since the first mission in 2010. The most recent launch from the Florida site was Sept. 10.

In 2012, SpaceX made history when it became the first commercial company to visit the International Space Station as its Falcon 9 delivered the Dragon spacecraft to rendezvous with the ISS.

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy was considered the most powerful rocket in the world when it launched in February. Its three Falcon 9 boosters make up its base and combined, 27 Merlin engines generate more than 5.13 million pounds of thrust.

The first passenger on the Falcon Heavy was SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's red Tesla Roadster car.

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