SpaceX is targeting 11:25 PM ET (03:25 UTC) tonight to launch Arabsat BADR-8 to a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The launch window extends for 127 minutes, which SpaceX might have to make use of because the weather outlook only shows a 25% likelihood of acceptable conditions. If weather conditions don’t improve, SpaceX has one other launch opportunity tomorrow evening at the identical time.
Targeting Tuesday, May 23 for Falcon 9’s launch of the @Arabsat BADR-8 mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from SLC-40 in Florida; weather is currently 25% favorable for liftoff → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2023
Arabsat BADR-8 is the primary seventh-generation satellite for the corporate built by Airbus and can provide telecommunications for the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The satellite might be launched in a 26-degree orbital inclination and can take roughly 4 to 5 months after separation from the Falcon 9 second stage to succeed in its final geostationary orbit.
Launching BADR-8 is B1062, which can now be flying for the 14th time. This Falcon 9 has previously supported 2 crewed missions, multiple Starlink launches, and other business payload launches. Just over eight and half minutes after launch, B1062 will perform a landing burn shortly before a planned soft touchdown on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions.”
One other aspect of this launch is the quickest turnaround time of SLC-40, having just previously supported the launch of Starlink Group 6-3 last week. SpaceX has actually picked up the pace of launches this month, as this might be the seventh launch of the month, with three of those coming SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. If SpaceX is capable of launch during their 127-minute window this evening, they might have a minimum of 2 more launches this month, one each from the East and West Coast launch pads.
The SpaceX fleet can be keeping a quick pace this month. The autonomous spaceport drone ships have been deployed almost back to back after launches this month, with them serving as landing platforms for five of the missions and likewise being on alert for the Axiom-2 mission, which launched this past weekend and can return roughly 8 days after launch and might be recovered by either “Megan” or “Shannon,” the 2 SpaceX Dragon recovery ships. Watch the Falcon 9 launch the BADR-8 launch below!
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