SpaceX is taking to the skies again. Over the last few months, the company has made headlines with their rocket launches and landing endeavors. The missions are advancing the notion of reusable rockets.
Today, SpaceX will set off its Falcon 9 rocket, with an expected two-hour launch window opening at 5:40 p.m. The blast-off will occur at the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Like previous launches, the Falcon 9 will attempt to land on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship.
“The payload for this launch will be the THAICOM 8 satellite, a commercial communications satellite built by Orbital ATK, and its mission is to provide Ku-band communications coverage for South Asia and Southeast Asia,” according to SpaceX. “The satellite will be delivered to a supersynchronous transfer orbit that will later be reduced by the satellite to an approximately 35,800 (km) circular geostationary orbit.”
The satellite, which weighs around 3,000 kg, is intended to provide the aforementioned Asian regions with broadcast and data services. It’ll be launched roughly 32 minutes after the rocket lifts off.
The company noted that landing on a barge at sea is particularly difficult, and they’ve learned firsthand how such an attempt could go south. In January, one of the company’s Falcon 9 rockets toppled over following its landing on the barge, ending its attempt in a fiery explosion. According to The Verge, the landing failed due to a malfunction with the rocket’s leg-locking mechanism.
If today’s weather is unfavorable, a backup launch window is set for May 27.
According to Florida Today, however, Air Force meteorologists predict the weather will be 90 percent favorable.
The dispatch comes on the heels of NASA announcing SpaceX will complete a commercial cargo launch in mid-July. During that set off, an uncrewed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will carry station supplies and hardware to the International Space Station.
Those interested in watching the webcast of today’s launch, click here.
