SpaceX launch: Rocket carrying experiments for the future of internet successfully takes off from Earth

SpaceX has launched a rocket into space – where it will drop off the beginnings of what could be the internet of the future.

The rocket launching today will carry a Spanish radar satellite as part of its main mission. But it will also carry with it two important experiments – internet satellites that will test its plan to beam connections back down to Earth.

Eventually, SpaceX hopes that this could become a full constellation of satellites, floating around the Earth and sending connections up and down again. That plan – supported by the US government – could provide fast internet connections to people in unconnected areas, though there are fears that it won't work out.

The demonstration mission won't actually allow SpaceX to begin work on its satellite internet – the actual thing will require far more satellites, which is why it's such a difficult and expensive project to launch. But it will be a useful way of testing and demonstrating that the idea works at all, which will be important given that similar plans have been tried and failed in the past.

In addition to the experimental satellites, the rocket will carry a satellite known as PAZ. That uses radar to give incredibly detailed pictures of what's going on back on Earth.

Neither of those payloads are likely to garner the same fame as the rocketman and his Tesla that SpaceX fired into space recently. But they are both far more useful than that car, too.

Unlike recent launches – like the famous test of the Falcon Heavy – SpaceX won't be trying to land this rocket so that it can be re-used again afterwards. In fact, it's helpful that it isn't, since the mission means that it can clear out some of its old boosters before a new design rolls out later this year.

But the rocket being used this time has already made such a journey. The booster has already been shot into space once already, flown back down and then renovated ready to fly up into space all over again.

It had been hoped that the rocket could be visible across California as it took off from Los Angeles. But conditions got in the way and the view was cloudy – after a series of postponed launches in recent days.