Israeli satellite Amos-17 was successfully launched into space in the early hours of Wednesday morning, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
SpaceX launched the communications satellite for Israeli operator Spacecom on an expendable Falcon 9 mission, following a three-day delay to replace a suspected rocket valve.
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Amos-17, Spacecom's newest satellite, separated from the rocket's upper stage 32 minutes after liftoff. The launch is SpaceX's 10th mission this year.
President Reuven Rivlin lauded the successful launch, saying it was a "morning full of pride," and thanking those involved for their "important work for the State of Israel."
Video: Reuters
Spacecom famously lost its Amos 6 communications satellite in 2016, during a Falcon 9 explosion that took place just days before its planned launch.
Built by Boeing, the $250 million Amos-17 weighs 6.5 tons with its solar panels deployed, it has a wingspan of 35 meters (115 feet). It is designed to operate for 20 years and provide broadcast and broadband connectivity services across sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. The satellite carries a mix of C-, Ku- and Ka-band transponders, as well as a digital channelizer for improved capacity allocation and signal interference mitigation.
Spacecom is a supplier of satellite services to satellite TV operators, Internet and telephone providers, governments and private data companies. The firm, which started operations in 1993, has launched satellites deployed around the globe. It said it has already received orders for services for a total of $58 million with respect to the Amos-17's services.
