SpaceX succeeds in launch and vertical landing of Falcon 9 rocket

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off successfully yesterday, marking the private company's first flight since an accident in June that destroyed a cargo ship destined for the International Space Station.

As well as the delivery mission, the launch was celebrated as a successful and historic test flight of a remarkable new booster rocket return-and-landing system.

The rocket was carrying communications satellites and departed from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

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It was the first time an unmanned rocket returned to land vertically at Cape Canaveral, and represented a great success for SpaceX, the California-based company owned by technology pioneer Elon Musk.

"Welcome back, baby!" Mr Musk tweeted after touchdown.

"It's a revolutionary moment," he later told reporters. "No-one has ever brought a booster, an orbital-class booster, back intact."

Whilst the achievement may seem underwhelming to the layman, a resuable rocket marks a significant step in driving down launch costs and ultimately opening up space flight to more people.

"I can't quite believe it," he said. "It's quite shocking."

Mr Musk said the landing appeared close to perfect and the company "could not have asked for a better mission or a better day".

The return-and-landing of a booster means that SpaceX have made up ground on rival company Blue Origin, who tested a vertical-landing rocket in November with similar success.