After launching the heaviest rocket in space on February 6, Elon Mask headed SpaceX will launch Falcon 9 rocket. The launch was earlier scheduled for February 17, but SpaceX delayed the launch citing that it needed more time for the final checks of the rocket’s upgraded payload fairing.

According to reports, the rocket will now be launched on February 21. The SpaceX representative tweeted that "Team at Vandenberg is taking additional time to perform final checkouts of upgraded fairing". The Falcon 9 will be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The Falcon 9 rocket will be sending SpaceX’s first Starlink broadband satellites and the Paz radar- imaging satellite for Spain into orbit. The broadband satellites by SpaceX is an attempt by Elon Musk promoted company to enter the domain of internet service providers and if things go as planned, SpaceX may be able to provide 5G like services to billions around the world.

SpaceX will launch two prototype satellites, named Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b along with its Starlink broadband satellite constellation. The company plans to launch and put thousands of communication satellites in orbit by 2020, said media reports. The Paz satellite is named after the Spanish word for “peace” and will be launched into a 514 km circular orbit.

SpaceX mentioned that "Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. Falcon 9 is the first orbital class rocket capable of reflight. SpaceX believes rocket reusability is the key breakthrough needed to reduce the cost of access to space and enable people to live on other planets."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 19, 2018 01:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).