A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched two highly effective communications satellites at this time (July 22), then aced its touchdown on a ship at sea.
The Falcon 9 lifted off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at this time at 5:12 p.m. EDT (2112 GMT), carrying SES’ O3b mPOWER 9 and 10 satellites towards medium Earth orbit (MEO), about 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) above our planet.
That was a day later than initially deliberate. SpaceX tried to launch the mission Monday (July 21) however aborted the try 11 seconds earlier than liftoff, for causes that the corporate didn’t instantly clarify.
The Falcon 9’s first stage got here again to Earth as deliberate at this time roughly 8.5 minutes after launch, touching down on the SpaceX droneship “Simply Learn the Directions,” which was stationed within the Atlantic Ocean.
In accordance with a SpaceX mission description, it was the sixth launch and touchdown for this explicit booster, which is designated B1090.
If all goes based on plan at this time, the Falcon 9’s higher stage will proceed carrying the 2 mPOWER satellites to MEO, deploying them there throughout a seven-minute stretch about two hours after liftoff.
Earlier Booster 1090 missions:
Luxembourg-based SES’s mPOWER constellation at the moment consists of eight high-throughput satellites, which reached orbit on 4 Falcon 9 launches from December 2022 to December 2024.
mPOWER is operational now, offering web service to prospects around the globe. However the constellation will proceed rising, to a complete of 13 satellites. Every is constructed by Boeing and weighs about 3,750 pounds (1,700 kilograms).
“The remaining three O3b mPOWER satellites are at the moment being manufactured and are scheduled for launch over the following 12 months,” SES representatives wrote in a brief update earlier this month.
Right now’s launch was the 89th Falcon mission of the yr already. SpaceX additionally has three different liftoffs beneath its belt this yr — take a look at flights of its Starship megarocket, which happened in January, March and Could.