SpaceX launches sateliites, but rocket landing fails

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sent two communications satellites on their way to orbit from Cape Canaveral this morning, but for the first time in several tries, the rocket's first stage failed to land on the drone ship.

The rocket blasted off on time at 10:29, cutting its way through the blue Florida skies without any issues.  Video fed back from the rocket showed a view of stage separation and the ignition of the second stage, but the footage cut out just as the fist stage approached the ship.

Moments later, company CEO Elon Musk tweeted that one of the engines was had low thrust at landing, causing a "RUD" or "rapid unscheduled disassembly -- rocketeer language for an explosion -- after what he called maybe the hardest landing to date.  It was the first landing failure since March.

The two satellites, meanwhile, continued on towards their planned orbits.

SpaceX's next launch is a Dragon cargo mission to the space station, scheduled for July 16.