Falcon 9 takes seven satellites into space for SpaceX
A SpaceX rocket launched from California has successfully deployed five communications satellites.
The deployment of the commercial Iridium Communication's satellites Tuesday followed the release of a pair of U.S.-German science satellites designed to study the movement of water masses across the Earth.
The communications satellites are part of Iridium's $3 billion effort to replace its entire globe-circling fleet with next-generation orbiters.
The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was used previously for a launch in January.
There was no attempt to recover it this time.