SpaceX successfully launches Galaxy 37 mission into orbit

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket topped with a payload of a single Intelsat satellite into space early Thursday from Florida.

The 229-foot rocket launched at 1 a.m. EDT from from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to put its satellite payload into geostationary orbit.

The Galaxy 37 communications satellite separated from the launch vehicle about a half hour following liftoff, and Intelsat confirmed signal acquisition occurred at 1:37 a.m. EDT.

"This launch completes our comprehensive Galaxy fleet refresh plan started about 10 months ago," Intelsat CEO Dave Wajsgras said in a statement after the launch.

"This milestone is now a part of the 40-year Galaxy legacy -- satellites our North American customers have relied on for decades."

The launch probablity based on weather was 80% minutes before liftoff.

The booster, which was on its sixth flight, successfully returned to Earth where it was retrieved by SpaceX's Just Read The Instructions drone barge.

Both fairing halves -- one of which was on its eighth flight and the other its 10th -- were to be retrieved with the use of Bob the drone ship.

According to Intelsat, the Maxar-built Galaxy 37 satellite will become operational later this year and will be positioned at 127 degrees west. Its G-37 C-band is expected to provide North American capacity for television media and telecommunication network customers, while its Horizon 4 Ku-band will provide continuity for mobility, network and U.S. government customers.

The mission comes after Galaxy 36 and 35 were launched from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket in December and Galaxy 33 and 34 by SpaceX in October.

Intelsat said Thursday's launch set a new commercial satellite record as it put an eighth geostationary satellite into space within a 10-month period.

Intelsat is a multinational satellite services company based in Luxembourg.