A rocket launched from the Central Coast Friday morning successfully deployed some communications satellites into orbit.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base just after 7 Friday morning. The rocket lifted 10 Iridium communications satellites into orbit. They are part of a network of what will eventually be 75 satellites providing next generation communications capabilities.
Officials say the launch went flawlessly, and the only problem was that a parachute apparently didn't properly deploy from the rocket's nose cone. SpaceX had been hoping to recover the cone so it could be reused on future flights.
The booster used for Friday's flight was one successfully used for launching some satellites from Vandenberg last October.
