The first of 8 such launches for Iridium, who is launching a new constellation of high bandwidth commsats for business, govt. and whoever. It was going to be 7 launches with 1 flock of satellites going up on a Russian Dnepr, but Russia cancelled the Dneper launcher and backed out. SpaceX ammended it to their existing contract.
Launch date: January 8,
Launch site: SLC-4E. Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Static fire: Tuesday, January 3
Launch time: 1028.07 Pacific (Local), 1328.07 Eastern, 1828.07 UTC
Stage landing: ASDS Just Read the Instructions
Likely follow-up launch is about 1-2 weeks later: Echostar 23 from KSC LC-39A, the first launch there since the Shuttle was decommissioned. It's also the pad used for Apollo 11.
LC-39A has changed a little since then, and will change more as they continue to take down the old Shuttle Rotating Service Structure (RSS), add 2 levels and a new Vertical Integration Crane to the Fixed Service Structure (FSS = tower) and a new Crew Access Arm for Crew Dragon manned missions. The FSS foundation has been upgraded, as has the pad itself. Tons of other upgrades having to do with extra Super-Chilled LOX storage (at 68° Kelvin) and other Falcon Heavy related upgrades.
The new launcher Transporter-Erector was out for tests last week....
Launch date: January 8,
Launch site: SLC-4E. Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Static fire: Tuesday, January 3
Launch time: 1028.07 Pacific (Local), 1328.07 Eastern, 1828.07 UTC
Stage landing: ASDS Just Read the Instructions
Likely follow-up launch is about 1-2 weeks later: Echostar 23 from KSC LC-39A, the first launch there since the Shuttle was decommissioned. It's also the pad used for Apollo 11.
LC-39A has changed a little since then, and will change more as they continue to take down the old Shuttle Rotating Service Structure (RSS), add 2 levels and a new Vertical Integration Crane to the Fixed Service Structure (FSS = tower) and a new Crew Access Arm for Crew Dragon manned missions. The FSS foundation has been upgraded, as has the pad itself. Tons of other upgrades having to do with extra Super-Chilled LOX storage (at 68° Kelvin) and other Falcon Heavy related upgrades.
The new launcher Transporter-Erector was out for tests last week....
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