Miami (AFP) - SpaceX successfully launched a communications satellite to a distant orbit but failed, as expected, to land the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket on an ocean platform.

The rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 6:36 pm (2336 GMT), propelling the satellite, known as SES-9, built by Boeing for the Luxembourg-based company SES.

The satellite successfully reached its geostationary orbit more than 24,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) above the Earth, about 100 times as high as the International Space Station.

From there it will deliver broadband and television channels to southeast Asia.

"Target altitude of 40,600 kilometers achieved," wrote SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Twitter.

"Thanks @SES_Satellites for riding on Falcon 9! Look forward to future missions."