On Sunday, July 13 at 1:04 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched Commercial GTO-1 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The satellite will reach fixed point over Earth within 2 weeks. Photos captured by Satnews.
The 4.5-ton Dror-1, developed by IAI will serve Israel’s communication needs for next 15 years.
“The satellite completed the launch process, and initial readings received from it indicate it is functioning properly,” IAI said in a statement.
“In the coming weeks, as the satellite is positioned in orbit around the Earth, IAI engineers will conduct a series of tests to verify its functionality, after which it will begin its years-long mission in space as Israel’s national communications satellite,” the company said.
IAI’s CEO Boaz Levy said the Dror-1 was “the most advanced communications satellite ever built in Israel, with the goal of preserving this national-strategic capability in the country and providing Israel with vital satellite communications capabilities for years to come.”
“Israel’s space program has turned from vision to reality thanks to the creativity and innovation of IAI employees, who have developed over the years complex and groundbreaking technologies,” Levy said.
This was the 13th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-8, Polaris Dawn, CRS-31, Astranis: From One to Many, IM-2, and seven Starlink missions.
SpaceX plans Saturday launch of Israel’s communications satellite Dror-1 (Commercial GTO 1)
SpaceX’s Falcon 9, on Saturday, July 12th, will launch Dror1 at 9:31 PM – 1:44 AM PDTA new type of SpaceX mission will lift off over the weekend from Cape Canaveral. SpaceX is referring to the mission as Commercial GTO 1.” This marks the first time SpaceX has used the term “GTO” for a mission name.
Dror-1 is a geostationary communication satellite built and developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is intended to meet the satellite communication needs of Israel for the next 15 years. Dror-1 is comprised primarily of local Israeli technologies developed at IAI, including an advanced digital communication payload and “smartphone in space” capabilities, to provide communication agility throughout the satellite’s lifetime in space.
The Falcon 9 1st stage booster will attempt to land on one of two East Coast ASDS after its flight.