Incredible pictures from SpaceX's historic launch and landing

spacex flickr
SpaceX/Flickr

SpaceX completed the first successful launch and landing of their Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral in Florida, on December 21.

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Shortly after the rocket launched around 8:30 p.m., SpaceX recovered the first stage of the rocket by landing it vertically on a landing pad.

It was a huge accomplishment for SpaceX, and the company is now well on its way toward revolutionizing spaceflight.

Here are some of the best shots from the historic launch and landing.

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SpaceX's most powerful Falcon 9 rocket ever blasted off from Cape Canaveral around 8:30 p.m. on December 21.

spacexs most powerful falcon 9 rocket blasted off from cape canaveral around 830 pm on december 21
YouTube/SpaceX
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The rocket carried 11 satellites into orbit for the company OrbComm, Inc.

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Here's a long exposure of the whole launch. You can see the taller light streak in the foreground, from where the rocket launched, and the shorter, straighter streak in the back, from the rocket's landing.

spacex, falcon 9 lift off, long exposure
A long exposure photograph shows the SpaceX Falcon 9 lifting off (L) from its launch pad and then returning to a landing zone (R) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, on the launcher's first mission since a June failure, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, December 21, 2015. The rocket carried a payload of eleven satellites owned by Orbcomm, a New Jersey-based communications company. This long exposure photograph was made by covering the lens in between liftoff and landing. REUTERS/Mike Brown Mike Brown/Reuters

The launch went off without a hitch, but then it was time for the real show to start.

the launch went off without a hitch but then it was time for the real show to start
SpaceX/YouTube
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SpaceX wanted to land part of the rocket back on this landing pad.

spacex flickr
SpaceX/Flickr

Here's the Falcon 9 moments before the touchdown.

spacex flickr
SpaceX/Flickr
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Coming in for a landing.

One rocket, gently used.

spacex flickr
SpaceX/Flickr
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Here's what the whole landing path looked like:

spacex flickr
SpaceX/Flickr

And here's a long exposure of the whole launch and landing together.

spacex flickr
SpaceX/Flickr
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