In a renewed effort to deploy a fleet of satellites, SpaceX is set to launch four MicroGEO satellites for Astranis tonight after a previous attempt was aborted last week.
Liftoff is scheduled for 12 a.m. EST (0500 GMT) on Sunday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This marks SpaceX’s second attempt to carry out this mission after the initial launch on December 21 was aborted just as the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage engines ignited. The launch can be viewed live on SpaceX’s X account and mission page, beginning about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.
SpaceX’s mission, dubbed ‘Astranis: From One to Many,’ is part of a series of three planned launches over three days. In addition to this launch, SpaceX plans to send 22 Starlink internet satellites aloft from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday, followed by another 21 Starlink satellites from another site in Florida on Monday. As stated in a recent X social media post, SpaceX aims to launch from all three pads in Florida and California within three days.
The MicroGEO satellites are manufactured by Astranis, a San Francisco-based company, and are meant to provide satellite communication services to various clients. Of the four satellites, two are designated for Colorado-based firm Anuvu to support in-flight connectivity, another is intended for a customer in the Philippines, and the fourth, named UtilitySat, is designed to serve multiple clients over its lifespan. According to Astranis CEO John Gedmark, these satellites feature advancements that enhance their capacity and affordability.
The satellites are expected to reach their geosynchronous orbit about 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth approximately 35 minutes post-liftoff. Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage will attempt to return to Earth, targeting a landing on the SpaceX drone ship, ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas,’ stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 8 minutes after launch.
Falcon 9, the booster assigned for this mission, has a seasoned history with six prior flights, including three Starlink launches, a NASA CRS-31 cargo flight, and missions involving astronauts under the Crew-8 and Polaris Dawn programs. SpaceX has provided a 2.5-hour launch window for the MicroGEO satellites, with a contingency opportunity available at 10:43 p.m. EST (0343 GMT Dec. 30) if the primary schedule is missed.
This launch underscores SpaceX’s ongoing commitment to advancing satellite technology and connectivity on a global scale, applying their expertise to ensure successful deployments for diverse clients.
Source: Space
