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SpaceX Sets Rocket-Reuse Record with Upcoming Launch
SpaceX is on the verge of matching its own record for reusing a rocket, achieving this milestone for the second time in less than a week. A Falcon 9 rocket is poised to blast off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California today (May 2), carrying two Earth-observation satellites for the company Maxar.
The launch is scheduled within a 14-minute window opening at 2:36 p.m. EDT (1836 GMT; 11:36 a.m. local California time). This mission will mark the 20th flight for this particular rocket’s first stage, equaling the record recently set by another Falcon 9 earlier this month and matched by a subsequent launch on April 27.
SpaceX intends to livestream the launch on its official platform, starting approximately 15 minutes before the launch window opens. The Falcon 9’s first stage is expected to return to Earth and land vertically back at Vandenberg about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, showcasing the company’s commitment to rocket reusability.
Moreover, the rocket’s upper stage will deliver two of Maxar’s WorldView Legion satellites to orbit. The first satellite will be deployed 13 minutes post-launch, followed by the second one at a 3.5-minute interval. These satellites are part of a larger network comprising six such spacecraft.
Maxar’s Enhanced Satellite Capabilities
The WorldView Legion satellites, developed by Maxar Space Systems and operated by Maxar Intelligence, will significantly enhance Maxar Technologies’ imaging capabilities. The planned constellation of six satellites will expand Maxar Intelligence’s capacity to capture high-resolution, multispectral imagery, with a spatial resolution as fine as 30 centimeters.
Upon completion, the full Maxar constellation, inclusive of 10 electro-optical satellites, will be capable of imaging Earth’s dynamic regions every 20 to 30 minutes, providing invaluable data throughout the day.
The upcoming mission, dubbed Maxar 1 by SpaceX, is just one of the many operations slated for Elon Musk’s ambitious aerospace company today. In addition to the Maxar launch, SpaceX is also scheduled to deploy 23 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Florida, further expanding its global communication network.
Furthermore, in the early hours of the day, SpaceX’s Crew-8 astronaut mission will see four astronauts relocate their Dragon capsule to create space for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which is set to launch to the International Space Station on May 6. These concurrent operations exemplify SpaceX’s multifaceted approach to space exploration and satellite deployment.
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