Wed, Mar 17, 2010
SpaceX Will Launch A Satellite Into Geosynchronous Transfer
Orbit As Early As 2012
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Space
Systems/Loral (SS/L) have signed an agreement for the launch of an
SS/L manufactured satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 as early as
2012. For this mission, Falcon 9 will launch from the SpaceX launch
site at Cape Canaveral and insert the satellite into a
geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
Space Systems/Loral builds GEO commercial satellites, capturing
40 percent of the high-power market since 2004. The company has an
international roster of customers, and its 1300 model satellite is
a decades-proven, modular platform with the industry’s
highest power capability and the flexibility to support a broad
range of applications including high definition television and
broadband.
"SpaceX is proud to be selected by Space Systems/Loral as they
are one of the premier manufacturers of commercial satellites and
the industry leader in satellite sales," said Gwynne Shotwell,
President of SpaceX. "With 24 Falcon 9 flights now on manifest,
SpaceX has established itself as an excellent partner for both
commercial and government customers, and we look forward to
supporting Space Systems/Loral on this launch."
“Like SS/L, the SpaceX team is committed to flawless
performance and reliability,” said John Celli, president of
Space Systems/Loral. “We are working closely with SpaceX to
ensure the success of a 1300 launch based on our many years of
experience. With numerous Falcon 9 launches on their manifest over
the next two years, we are assured of a successful flight history
in advance of our mission.”
SpaceX's Falcon 9 is a medium-to-heavy lift, two-stage launch
vehicle capable of lifting approximately 11 tons to low Earth orbit
(LEO) and in excess of 4.5 tons to GTO currently under testing at
Cape Canaveral in Florida. Falcon 9, along with SpaceX's Dragon
spacecraft, were selected by NASA to resupply the International
Space Station starting later this year.
More News
High Speed Taxiway A long radius taxiway designed and provided with lighting or marking to define the path of aircraft, traveling at high speed (up to 60 knots), from the runway ce>[...]
“If we have a continual small subset of controllers that don’t show up to work… they’re the problem children... We need more controllers, but we need the b>[...]
From 2022 (YouTube Edition): Before They’re All Gone... Humankind has been messing about in airplanes for almost 120-years. In that time, thousands of aircraft representing i>[...]
Aero Linx: National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) NAAA provides networking, educational, government relations, public relations, recruiting and informational services to>[...]
Also: Pilot Age Cap, Skylar AI Flight Assistant, NS-36 Mission, ALPA v Shutdown The federal government has officially gone into lockdown mode. The FAA will be laying off around a f>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.12.25): High Speed Taxiway
See All