A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket introduced for a record-tying twenty second time on Sunday evening (Aug. 11), sending aloft two satellites that can supply broadband protection within the Arctic area.A Falcon 9 rocket sporting the 2 spacecraft of the Arctic Satellite tv for pc Broadband Project (ASBM) lifted off from California’s Vandenberg Area Power Base on Sunday at 10:02 p.m. EDT (7:02 p.m. native California time; 0202 GMT on Aug. 12).The Falcon 9 punched via a blanket of coastal fog — a not unusual incidence all through launches from Vandenberg — because it rose via a darkening night sky.
At left, the primary degree of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket comes down for a touchdown on a boat at sea in a while after launching the two-spacecraft Arctic Satellite tv for pc Broadband Project from Vandenberg Area Power Base in California on Aug. 11, 2024. At proper, the view from the Falcon 9’s higher degree, which carried the satellites to their designated orbit. (Symbol credit score: SpaceX)The Falcon 9’s first degree got here again to Earth about 8.5 mins after release as deliberate, touchdown at the SpaceX drone send Of Path I Nonetheless Love You, which was once stationed within the Pacific Ocean.It was once the twenty second release and touchdown for this actual booster, in step with a SpaceX challenge description. That tied the corporate’s rocket-reuse listing, set this previous June all through a release of SpaceX’s Starlink web satellites.The Falcon 9’s higher degree, in the meantime, persevered sporting the ASBM satellites to orbit. It deployed the primary one 42.5 mins after liftoff and the second 5 mins later.Comparable: 8 ways in which SpaceX has remodeled spaceflightBreaking house information, the most recent updates on rocket launches, skywatching occasions and extra!ASBM “is designed to enlarge broadband protection to the Arctic area for the U.S. Area Power and Area Norway,” in step with aerospace massive Northrop Grumman, which constructed the challenge’s two satellites. (Area Norway is a state-owned corporate that develops and manages strategic house infrastructure for the country.)The ASBM satellites — which can function in a extremely elliptical orbit to succeed in their protection house — lift more than one tools, “together with army payloads for the U.S. and Norwegian Armed Forces, in addition to a business payload for Viasat, and a radiation track for the Eu Fee,” Northrop Grumman wrote in its challenge description.Sunday’s release was once a part of a hectic weekend for SpaceX. On Saturday morning (Aug. 10), the corporate introduced 21 Starlink satelllites from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Area Power Station. SpaceX attempted to release any other Starlink batch on Sunday morning from NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle, which may be on Florida’s Area Coast, however aborted that check out with 46 seconds left within the countdown.Editor’s observe: This tale was once up to date at 10:54 p.m. ET on Aug. 11 with information off a success release, rocket touchdown and satellite tv for pc deployment.
