CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — SpaceX launched two European telecommunications satellites into orbit on Tuesday evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
What You Need To Know
- SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket sent two European telecommunications satellites into orbit
- European company SES already has eight satellites in orbit
The successful Falcon 9 rocket launch came at 5:12 p.m. ET after the mission was was aborted with just seconds to go until liftoff Monday
While not given as the reason for Monday’s abort, weather was already expected to be an issue, with the 45th Weather Squadron saying Monday’s conditions allowed “seasonal moisture to return to the area and may help develop afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms near the area during the primary launch window. Some storms may be strong enough to produce wind gusts of 40-50 mph.”
The main concerns against Monday’s launch were: Anvil cloud, cumulus cloud and surface electric field rules.
SpaceX also fought the potential for a weather scrub on Tuesday, as the 45th Weather Squadron gave 20% favorable launch conditions, but the launch went off without a hitch.
Find out more about the weather criteria for a Falcon 9 launch.
Launch marks half a dozen missions
The launch was the sixth flight for the first-stage booster B-1090. Besides a crewed launch, this is also the second time it has sent up satellites from this company:
After the stage separation, the first-stage booster rocket landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
About the mission
SES, a Luxembourgish-French satellite telecommunications company, will send up two satellites, where they will meet the eight already up there.
“Both satellites will join the eight O3b mPOWER satellites already in operation at medium earth orbit (MEO). SES has optimised its next launch configuration from three to two satellites to maintain its capacity increase targets and improve network efficiency,” stated SES in a press release.
There are three more O3b mPOWER satellites that are being made and they are set to be launched next year, stated SES.
Anthony Leone
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