A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket efficiently launched the Optus-X telecommunications satellite tv for pc into orbit on Sunday, November 17, from NASA’s Kennedy House Heart in Florida. The liftoff came about at 5:28pm EST coinciding with a sundown that added visible enchantment to the occasion. The satellite tv for pc, commissioned by the Australian telecom firm Optus, will serve communication wants as soon as operational in geostationary orbit.
First Stage Recovered in Ocean Touchdown
After the launch, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage made a managed descent, touchdown on SpaceX’s Atlantic Ocean-based droneship, A Shortfall of Gravitas. The touchdown occurred roughly 9 minutes after takeoff, marking the sixteenth flight for this booster. SpaceX has indicated that 9 of those flights had been a part of missions to deploy Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
Optus-X’s Journey to Geostationary Orbit
The satellite tv for pc’s supposed vacation spot is geostationary orbit, positioned 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometres) above the Earth. The Falcon 9 higher stage carried Optus-X to a geosynchronous switch orbit, from the place the satellite tv for pc will journey the remaining distance utilizing its onboard propulsion methods.
Busy Schedule for SpaceX
The launch marks the start of an intense three-day interval for SpaceX. Two further missions are deliberate for Monday, November 18, together with the deployment of Starlink satellites and an Indian telecom satellite tv for pc. On Tuesday, November 19, SpaceX is ready to conduct the sixth take a look at flight of its Starship rocket, an occasion anticipated to draw important consideration.
This newest mission highlights SpaceX’s ongoing dedication to frequent and reusable launches, which have develop into a central element of its operational technique.
