SpaceX racks up another rocket launch, its 16th this year

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sent a South Korean communications satellite into orbit from Kennedy Space Center Monday on Monday afternoon.

It was the company's 16th launch this year -- double last year's count, and 2017 still has two months remaining.

Koreasat 5A will provide direct-to-home television broadcast and other communications services over Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Guam, Indochina, and South Asia.  The satellite will also support maritime communications.

Once separated, the 15-story first-stage booster flew to a floating platform in the Atlantic and landed upright. The TV link of the touchdown was lost. But SpaceX confirmed success despite the choppy seas and some flames from the landed booster. SpaceX expects to reuse the booster to save time and money