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Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA) presents ‘Game Changers’ live with the CEO of SatNews Publishers

September 23, 2023

A not to be missed session regarding the upcoming Silicon Valley Space Week / Satellite Innovation / Milsat Symposium (SVSW) trade event will be hosted by the Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA) as they present their ‘Game Changers‘ interview — LIVE.

The guest for this informative session will be Mr. Silvano Payne, the Chief Executive Officer of SatNews Publishers. He will offer a preview of what can be expected during the SVSW trade event that will be in session from October 17th through 20th at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

Mr. Payne’s deep experience in the satellite industry has enabled him to develop an outstanding SVSW, an event that is built on his industry experience and insights. SVSW gathers together some of the most successful leaders in the satellite and space industry and they create highly informative keynotes, sessions and panels that simply cannot be found in any other industry trade show.

MSUA members receive a 20% discount on their registrations. Be certain to visit the members only portal for this discount code. In the meantime, join MUSA to learn more about this upcoming truly informative and incredibly informative annual event.

Do not miss this MSUA ‘Game Changers‘ event which will be streamed on…

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7111063442974789632/comments/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXwh9RWYBr0

Filed Under: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Game Changers, Milsat Symposium, Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA), Satellite Innovation, SatNews Publishers, Silicon Valley Space Week, Silvano Payne, Trade Event, Trade Show Tagged With: Featured

SpaceX launches 22 Starlink small sats and attains two new records

September 20, 2023

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 22 Starlink satellites on Sept. 19, 2023. It was the record-setting 17th launch for this rocket’s first stage. (Image credit: SpaceX)

On Tuesday, September 19 at 11:38 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9’s first stage came back to Earth 8.5 minutes after launch, landing on a SpaceX drone ship stationed at sea. SpaceX launches have been dedicated to building out the Starlink megaconstellation, that consists of more than 4,700 operational satellites.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rests on the deck of a drone ship shortly after launching 22 Starlink satellites on Sept. 19, 2023.  (Image credit: SpaceX)

This was the 17th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew Demo-2, ANASIS-11, CRS-21, Transporter-1, Transporter-3, and now 12 Starlink missions. Those figures are record breaking as the previous mark was 16, held by two different Falcon 9 boosters.

The 22 Starlink satellites deployed from the Falcon 9’s upper stage 62.5 minutes after launch as planned.

Tuesday night’s launch also created another record as it was SpaceX’s 65th orbital mission of the year. The company’s previous mark, 61, was set in 2022.

Filed Under: Booster, Cape Canaveral SFS, Constellation, Falcon 9, Launches, smallsats, SpaceX, Starlink Tagged With: Featured

AST SpaceMobile achieves space-based 5G cell broadband connectivity from smartphones

September 19, 2023

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) has successfully completed the first-ever 5G connection for voice and data between an everyday, unmodified smartphone and a satellite in space.

AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 test satellite is 693 square feet in size, designed to generate power from space and deliver cellular broadband directly to your phone. Photo is courtesy of the company.

Company engineers demonstrated space-based 5G connectivity by placing a call from Maui, Hawaii, USA, to a Vodafone engineer in Madrid, Spain, using AT&T spectrum and AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 test satellite — the largest-ever commercial communications array deployed in LEO. Fifth-generation or 5G mobile networking is the fastest, most efficient, highest-throughput, lowest-latency, and flexible wireless standard ever released by the 3GPP consortium.

The 5G call was placed on September 8, 2023, from an unmodified Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone located near Hana, Hawaii, in a wireless dead zone. 5G connectivity testing was completed with the company’s partners Vodafone, AT&T and Nokia. In a separate test, the company broke its previous space-based cellular broadband data session record by achieving a download rate of approximately 14 Mbps.

These accomplishments follow AST SpaceMobile’s April announcement that the company had completed the first-ever, space-based voice calls using everyday unmodified smartphones. In June, AST SpaceMobile announced that the satellite reached initial download speeds above 10 Mbps. The company’s comprehensive testing program with its partners has continued since June, including additional voice calls, 4G video calls and now 5G cellular broadband connections. These speeds, beyond supporting basic voice and text, also enable browsing the internet, downloading files, using messaging apps, streaming video, and more on everyday smartphones.

A video regarding the 5G connection and other testing milestones using BlueWalker 3 can be viewed at this direct link…

This continuing series of historic achievements is part of AST SpaceMobile’s path toward its goal of launching five commercial BlueBird satellites in the first quarter of 2024 and its continued efforts to push the boundaries of what is possible in telecommunications. The company is currently building BlueBird satellites at its facility in Midland, Texas.

“Once again, we have achieved a significant technological advancement that represents a paradigm shift in access to information. Since the launch of BlueWalker 3, we have achieved full compatibility with phones made by all major manufacturers and support for 2G, 4G LTE, and now 5G. Making the first successful 5G cellular broadband connections from space directly to mobile phones is yet another significant advancement in telecommunications AST SpaceMobile has pioneered. We are more confident than ever that space-based cellular broadband can help transform internet connectivity across the globe by filling in gaps and connecting the unconnected.” — Abel Avellan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AST SpaceMobile

“Vodafone is striving to close the mobile usage gap for millions of people across Europe and Africa. By making the world’s first space-based 5G call to Europe, we have taken another important step in realizing that ambition. We’re excited to be at the forefront of space technology through our partnership with AST SpaceMobile.” — Margherita Della Valle, Chief Executive, Vodafone Group

“These moments are extraordinary milestones in telecommunications history. These first-of-a-kind innovations would not be possible without ecosystem-wide collaboration. We’re all working together to achieve the shared vision of space-based connectivity for consumers, businesses and first responders all around the globe.” — Chris Sambar, Head of AT&T Network

“We congratulate AST SpaceMobile on their latest incredible achievement in completing a 5G voice call from space. While we are of course proud that our AirScale portfolio is playing a key role in underpinning these networks, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture that space-based cellular broadband can provide crucial connectivity to underserved communities around the world. At Nokia, we believe that everyone should have access to universal broadband services, and we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with AST SpaceMobile on this game-changing initiative.” — Tommi Uitto, President, Mobile Networks, Nokia

AST SpaceMobile has more than 2,600 patent and patent-pending claims for its technology and built state-of-the-art facilities in Midland, Texas, which collectively span 185,000 square feet. AST SpaceMobile also has agreements and understandings with more than 40 mobile network operators globally, which have approximately 2.4 billion existing subscribers total, including Vodafone Group, Rakuten Mobile, AT&T, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, MTN, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Smartfren, Telecom Argentina, Telstra, Africell, Liberty Latin America and others. Vodafone, Rakuten, American Tower, Samsung NEXT and Bell Canada are also investors in AST SpaceMobile.

Filed Under: 5G, 5G, 5G over Satellite, AST Space Mobile, BlueWalker 3 LEO satellite, Cellular Broadband, Comms, LEO, Satellites, Space-Based Voice Calls Tagged With: Featured

Sidus Space to launch LizzieSats on upcoming SpaceX Bandwagon mission

September 19, 2023

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) has confirmed the company’s plan to reallocate two LizzieSats to launch on an upcoming Bandwagon mission with SpaceX.

The updated LizzieSat constellation configuration will advance cutting-edge LEO data collection and provide enhanced orbital flexibility for government and commercial customers.

While initially planning to launch its first LizzieSat on Transporter-9 in Q4 2023, the Company has adjusted its launch manifest to take advantage of the opportunity to cover more populated areas and increase data revenue. The updated schedule targets a first launch in Q1 2024 followed by two LizzieSats on a Bandwagon mission in Q2 2024.

The Company continues to be manifested for the launch of a single LizzieSat with SpaceX on Transporter-10 in Q1 2024 and two additional LizzieSats on Transporter-11 in Q2 2024, which will result in an expected five LizzieSats on orbit in the company’s constellation by the end of the third quarter of 2024. The LizzieSats deployed on Bandwagon will operate in synergy with those on Transporter missions as the complementary orbits increase the value and the amount of data that can be collected for sale by the company.

“The[CC1] Bandwagon mission is exciting because it gives us the ability to place multiple LizzieSats in dissimilar orbits, enabling us to capture higher revenue generating data while increasing our payload and data customers. This, when combined with the inclusion of additional sensors and enhanced AI capabilities on our initial flight, adds value as we get closer to initiating these launches and developing new, high-margin business lines.” — Carol Craig, Founder and CEO, Sidus Space

“The convergence of our orbit inclination, advanced payloads, and EdgeAI capabilities enables us to provide an unparalleled data service to our customers. Our capability to address a critical void through wide area spectral data imaging greatly enhances LizzieSat’s overall potential.” — John Curry, Chief Mission Operations Officer, Sidus Space

Filed Under: Constellation, Constellation Deployment, LizzieSats, News, Sidus Space, smallsats, SpaceX, SpaceX Bandwagon Mission Tagged With: Featured

NASA’s Webb reveals methane, carbon dioxide in atmosphere of K2-18 b, and maybe water

September 18, 2023

This artist’s concept shows what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on science data. K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone and lies 120 light-years from Earth. A new investigation with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. The abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, and shortage of ammonia, support the hypothesis that there may be a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere in K2-18 b.
Credits: Illustration: NASA, CSA, ESA, J. Olmsted (STScI), Science: N. Madhusudhan (Cambridge University)

A new investigation with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. Webb’s discovery adds to recent studies suggesting that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface.

The first insight into the atmospheric properties of this habitable-zone exoplanet came from observations with NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, which prompted further studies that have since changed our understanding of the system.

K2-18 b orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone and lies 120 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. Exoplanets such as K2-18 b, which have sizes between those of Earth and Neptune, are unlike anything in our solar system. This lack of equivalent nearby planets means that these ‘sub-Neptunes’ are poorly understood, and the nature of their atmospheres is a matter of active debate among astronomers.

The suggestion that the sub-Neptune K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet is intriguing, as some astronomers believe that these worlds are promising environments to search for evidence for life on exoplanets.

“Our findings underscore the importance of considering diverse habitable environments in the search for life elsewhere,” explained Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and lead author of the paper announcing these results. “Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger Hycean worlds are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations.”

The abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, and shortage of ammonia, support the hypothesis that there may be a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere in K2-18 b. These initial Webb observations also provided a possible detection of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS). On Earth, this is only produced by life. The bulk of the DMS in Earth’s atmosphere is emitted from phytoplankton in marine environments.

The inference of DMS is less robust and requires further validation. “Upcoming Webb observations should be able to confirm if DMS is indeed present in the atmosphere of K2-18 b at significant levels,” explained Madhusudhan.

Spectra of K2-18 b, obtained with Webb’s NIRISS (Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph) and NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph), display an abundance of methane and carbon dioxide in the exoplanet’s atmosphere, as well as a possible detection of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS). The detection of methane and carbon dioxide, and shortage of ammonia, support the hypothesis that there may be a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere in K2-18 b. K2-18 b, 8.6 times as massive as Earth, orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone and lies 120 light-years from Earth.
Credits: Illustration: NASA, CSA, ESA, R. Crawford (STScI), J. Olmsted (STScI), Science: N. Madhusudhan (Cambridge University)

While K2-18 b lies in the habitable zone, and is now known to harbor carbon-bearing molecules, this does not necessarily mean that the planet can support life. The planet’s large size — with a radius 2.6 times the radius of Earth — means that the planet’s interior likely contains a large mantle of high-pressure ice, like Neptune, but with a thinner hydrogen-rich atmosphere and an ocean surface. Hycean worlds are predicted to have oceans of water. However, it is also possible that the ocean is too hot to be habitable or be liquid.

“Although this kind of planet does not exist in our solar system, sub-Neptunes are the most common type of planet known so far in the galaxy,” explained team member Subhajit Sarkar of Cardiff University. “We have obtained the most detailed spectrum of a habitable-zone sub-Neptune to date, and this allowed us to work out the molecules that exist in its atmosphere.”

Characterizing the atmospheres of exoplanets like K2-18 b — meaning identifying their gases and physical conditions — is a very active area in astronomy. However, these planets are outshone — literally — by the glare of their much larger parent stars, which makes exploring exoplanet atmospheres particularly challenging.

The team sidestepped this challenge by analyzing light from K2-18 b’s parent star as it passed through the exoplanet’s atmosphere. K2-18 b is a transiting exoplanet, meaning that we can detect a drop in brightness as it passes across the face of its host star. This is how the exoplanet was first discovered in 2015 with NASA’s K2 mission. This means that during transits a tiny fraction of starlight will pass through the exoplanet’s atmosphere before reaching telescopes like Webb. The starlight’s passage through the exoplanet atmosphere leaves traces that astronomers can piece together to determine the gases of the exoplanet’s atmosphere.

“This result was only possible because of the extended wavelength range and unprecedented sensitivity of Webb, which enabled robust detection of spectral features with just two transits,” said Madhusudhan. “For comparison, one transit observation with Webb provided comparable precision to eight observations with Hubble conducted over a few years and in a relatively narrow wavelength range.”

“These results are the product of just two observations of K2-18 b, with many more on the way,” explained team member Savvas Constantinou of the University of Cambridge. “This means our work here is but an early demonstration of what Webb can observe in habitable-zone exoplanets.”

The team’s results were accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The team now intends to conduct follow-up research with the telescope’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) spectrograph that they hope will further validate their findings and provide new insights into the environmental conditions on K2-18 b.

“Our ultimate goal is the identification of life on a habitable exoplanet, which would transform our understanding of our place in the universe,” concluded Madhusudhan. “Our findings are a promising step towards a deeper understanding of Hycean worlds in this quest.”

The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.

Filed Under: ESA, Exoplanet, Investigation, James Webb Space Telescope, NASA Tagged With: Featured

Terran Orbital buses deploy to LEO for SDA’s Tranche 0 mission

September 18, 2023

Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) has reported the successful deployment of 10 smallsats that incorporate the firm’s buses to LEO, following a September 2, 2023, launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

These 10 satellites are part of the Tranche 0 Transport Layer of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Terran Orbital manufactured the buses for Lockheed Martin for payload integration and delivery to SDA.

Currently, Terran Orbital is producing 42 satellite buses for Lockheed Martin, which will deliver 42 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for SDA. These 42 satellites are scheduled to launch in 2024.

These satellites will have various capabilities, including optical communications links, Link-16 mission communications, a Ka-band RF communications payload, and a BMC3 module that enables on-orbit data processing. These features will support missions for global warfighters.

“It is a great honor to contribute to this important mission by delivering our 10 satellite buses to Lockheed Martin. We are thankful to Lockheed Martin for their collaboration and the opportunity to leverage our small satellite solution expertise and to support their missions.” — Marc Bell, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Terran Orbital.

Filed Under: Agencies, Constellation, Lockheed Martin, Military, National Defense, News, Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), SmallSat, Smallsat Development, smallsats, Space Development Agency (SDA), Terran Orbital, Tranche 0, Vandenberg SFB, Warfighters Tagged With: Featured

Firefly Aerospace launches USSF VICTUS NOX mission with 24 hour notice

September 14, 2023

Firefly Aerospace has successfully launched the company’s Alpha rocket and has deployed the VICTUS NOX spacecraft following a 24 hour notice to complete final payload operations and mission preparations.

The deployment of the VICTUS NOX smallsat for the USSF – SSC. Image is courtesy of Firefly.

Led by U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s (USSF – SSC) Space Safari Program Office, and in close partnership with the Rocket Systems Launch Program, the mission advances the nation’s capability to rapidly respond to on-orbit needs during a conflict or in response to a national security threat.

Upon receiving the notice to launch and orbit requirements from the USSF, Firefly completed all final launch preparations, including trajectory software updates, payload encapsulation, transport to the launch pad, mating to Alpha, and fueling, within 24 hours. Alpha then launched at the first available window, 27 hours after receipt of launch orders.

Photo of Firefly’s Alpha launch vehicle, courtesy of the company.

The flight began with a nominal countdown and liftoff at 7:28 p.m. PDT on September 14th. and progressed seamlessly through each stage of flight, including stage one main engine cutoff (MECO), stage separation and stage two ignition. Alpha then deployed the Millennium Space Systems satellite at the target destination in LEO. Firefly also successfully tested an Alpha stage two relight and targeted re-entry.

Building on this success, Firefly is ramping up Alpha production and testing for multiple upcoming launches, including missions in support of Lockheed Martin, NASA, the NRO, and more.

“Today was an incredible success for the Space Force, the Firefly team, and our nation after nailing this complex responsive space mission. Our combined commercial and government team executed the mission with record speed, agility, and flexibility, adding a critical capability to address national security needs.” Bill Weber, CEO, Firefly Aerospace

“I’m incredibly proud of this team for completing these critical mission milestones and successfully launching in a matter of hours rather than weeks or months in a typical operation. As our third flight, this mission further validates Firefly’s technology rigor, passion, and dedication that’s required to prevail as the leading responsive launch provider for both government and commercial customers.” — Adam Oakes, VP of Launch Vehicles, Firefly Aerospace

“The success of the VICTUS NOX mission not only proves a key aspect of the United States’ TacRS capability but provides true utility to the warfighter. Working closely with our Assured Access to Space team and industry partners, the Space Safari team continues to demonstrate how TacRS enables us to quickly respond to urgent on-orbit needs.” — Col. Bryon McClain, Program Executive Officer for the Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power directorate, which oversees SSC’s Space Safari program office

Filed Under: Alpha Rocket, Firefly Aerospace, LEO, Military, Millennium Space Systems, National Security, News, SmallSat, United States Space Force (USSF), United States Space Systems Command Tagged With: Featured

Swissto12 secures million€€ in growth financing for 1st GEO smallsat 

September 14, 2023

Swissto12 has secured a 26.15 million euros working capital facility from UBS Switzerland AG. The bank will provide Swissto12 with access to additional working capital to support the delivery of the company’s first HummingSat, Swissto12’s GEO smallsat.  

Since the company was founded in 2011, Swissto12 has raised more than 50 million euros in venture capital from prominent Swiss and European investors that have included Contantia New Business, Swisscom, Swisscanto and Zürcher Kantonal. In addition to the company’s growing Radio Frequency (RF) product and subsystem business, Swissto12’s partnership project with the European Space Agency (ESA) has gained more than 30 million euros of support to design the HummingSat platform, the first smallsat for GEO. 

In 2022, Swissto12 announced securing a deal to supply a HummingSat satellite to Intelsat, followed in May 2023 by a deal to supply three HummingSats to Inmarsat (acquired by Viasat in 2023). The company currently has more than 200 million euros in back orders from customers across the firm’s RF products and subsystems business, partnership with ESA and recent HummingSat contracts.

“Swissto12 is the first ever growth-stage company to sell a whole geostationary satellite to global satellite operators – testament to the uniquely transformative market potential of the HummingSat platform and the team’s technical and commercial acumen. Having generated over €200 million in customer orders, Swissto12 is also one of the few growth-stage companies able to secure a growth facility of this magnitude from a multinational bank such as UBS – the company is in a tremendously good position to reinvigorate the geostationary communications market on which billions of people depend for broadband, broadcast and safety services.” — Pär Lange, Partner, Swisscom Ventures

“As the Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV, we are pleased to help enable this partnership between Swissto12 and UBS and support Swissto12 as it seizes new growth opportunities in the global satellite market.” — Peter Gisler, CEO, SERV

“This working capital facility with UBS gives us additional agility to execute on the manufacturing and delivery of our first HummingSat. Swissto12 is thereby creating a new class of agile, high performance SmallSat for geostationary orbit that is approximately three to five times smaller and lower cost than conventional geostationary satellites, while still reliably delivering critical services. We’re excited to build on customer demand from global satellite operators and national governments with our innovative geostationary communications satellites that will better connect and protect users worldwide.” — Emile de Rijk, Founder and CEO of Swissto12

Filed Under: Bank Financing, Financing Round, Geostationary Orbit (GEO), HummingSat, News, SmallSat, SWISSto12, Switzerland, UBS Switzerland AG Tagged With: Featured

Rogue Space ready for liftoff

September 14, 2023

Rogue Space Systems, creator of Orbots™, autonomous AI robots, that provide in-space infrastructure and services, has successfully integrated their “Barry” (Barry-1) spacecraft into its deployer with partner Exolaunch — Barry-1 is now ready for transport to Vandenberg Space Force Base where it will be flying on the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission NET October 2023.

The completion of this integration marks the final steps for Rogue’s inaugural launch, gaining the company space heritage. The “Barry” spacecraft will test Rogue’s novel Scalable Compute Platform (SCP) and its ability to aggregate data from multiple sensors and process that data in real time. Rogue will also be testing a number of both internal and customer developed algorithms.

Also, on Barry-1, Rogue has some interesting customer hardware payloads. The Rogue team will be testing two, IVO Quantum Drives, propellant-less propulsion systems which, if successful (according to Rogue’s CRO Brent Abbott), “would revolutionize the space industry.” Rogue was contracted by IVO to ensure thorough in-space testing and validation.

As a first in a series of demonstrations and testing for their customers, Rogue has included “Massless Payload Hostings” on Barry-1. The team at Rogue has an additional hosting that will be announced once the smallsat has completed initial commissioning. In the past 18 months, Rogue has successfully delivered 14 SpaceWERX and AFWERX SBIR/STTR contracts, valued at more than $3.25 million.

“We are embarking on the in-space demonstration of Rogue’s novel technology. These technologies were developed contracts awarded through the SpaceWERX Orbital Prime Program.. Rogue has rapidly advanced multiple, essential technologies and is now achieving space heritage. This is the definitive milestone for any space startup. None of it would have been possible if not for our brilliant and driven team here at Rogue who overcame so many challenges to get here. Watching the team thrive in the face of those challenges was a genuinely humble experience. We look forward to Barry-1 in space, this is their moment. These guys have earned it.” — Jeromy Grimmett, Founder and CEO, Rogue

Filed Under: Exolaunch, Launch, News, Rogue Space Systems, SmallSat, Smallsat Launch Vehicles, SpaceX Transporter-9 Tagged With: Featured

SpaceX preps for a Friday launch of 22 Starlinks

September 14, 2023

SpaceX photo of a previous Starlink launch

SpaceX is ramping up once again and targeting Friday, September 15 at 12:03 a.m. ET (04:53 UTC) for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. If needed, an additional opportunity is available at 12:30 a.m. ET (04:30 UTC). Two backup opportunities are also currently available on Friday, September 15 at 11:38 p.m. ET (03:38 UTC September 16) and Saturday, September 16 at 12:07 a.m. ET (04:07 UTC).

Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more.

This is the fifth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy their advanced broadband internet system. As the world’s leading provider of launch services — and the only provider with an orbital class reusable rocket — SpaceX has extensive experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff.

Although the launches are taking place quickly despite hurricanes and rare technical difficulties, the goal of 144 launches would require the turnaround time to approximately six days. This would be possible for Of Course I Still Love You to support as the West Coast drone ships are in closer proximity to the port, and are easier for the teams to turn around reducing the time by two days, as opposed to the East Coast missions.

Filed Under: Booster, California, Cape Canaveral SFS, Droneship, Falcon 9, Hurricanes, Launches, LEO, Manufacturing, Satellites, smallsats, Spacecraft Manufacturing, SpaceX, Starlink Tagged With: Featured

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