GPS for US Space Force on Falcon 9 rocket SpaceX has not launched a brand new rocket since June when it launched the III satellite. Since then, the company has launched many commercial missions and its own Starlink satellites on a variety of previously flown rockets, and they were all successful.
However, when the company attempted to launch the first phase of the new Falcon 9 on October 2 – this was for another GPS satellite called GPS III-04, the attempt was canceled in T-2 seconds. Later, SpaceX’s Hans Koenigsman explained that two of the rocket’s nine first-stage engines ignited in early October, and this led to automatic downtime of the engines.
This problem was eventually discovered in the small lacquer used during the metal-treatment process which was supposed to be removed before the flight but it was not. Now the company believes it has pointed out the problem, which is a good thing because the company has three important missions coming up for the American government, all of which will fly on new rockets.
The GPS III-04 is the first attempt to launch the satellite, and this arrives on Thursday evening. The Falcon 9 rocket, replacing its two Merlin engines, will take off from the Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 6:24 p.m. EST (23:24 UTC). A satellite of about four tons will be placed in a transfer orbit with an apogee of about 20,000 km.
The mission provided is a breakthrough and addresses Rogan’s issue, with SpaceX then launching the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s expert list Noguchi with NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Shashanun carrying a car, and a NASA astronaut carrying a second spacecraft. , International Space Station. That mission is currently scheduled for November 14.
And finally, SpaceX has another mission for NASA, scheduled as early as November 21, to launch the Earth observation Sentinel-6 spacecraft from Wendenberg Air Force Base.
As it investigates the Rogan issue, SpaceX is able to fly its flight-proof rocket as it showed in the first phase that it was not already affected by the manufacturing issue. It is also worth noting that both Space Force and NASA have contracted with SpaceX to fly their missions in the first phase used for future missions.
The provided GPS III mission will take off this evening – the current weather forecast supports a 60 percent chance of favorable conditions – SpaceX will try to land on it in the first phase Cf course I still love droneship. The webcast launch below the company should start 15 minutes before the launch window opens.
Launch of GPS III-04.
Image list by Trevor Mahalman for Aras
