SpaceX is putting yet another satellite into orbit in just a few hours according to Spacex.com:
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver JCSAT-14, a commercial communications satellite for SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). SKY Perfect JSAT is a leading satellite operator in the Asia-Pacific region and provides high-quality satellite communications to its customers using its fleet of 15 satellites.
Each launch carries a commercial price tag of about $62million dollars and is expected to launch at 1:21am ET.
The mission is intended to put the JCSAT-14 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit which will keep the satellite over the same area 24/7.
In order to achieve geostationary orbit, the launch vehicle drops the satellite off in Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). From there, it’s all up to the flight control team and the satellite to modify the orbit into a geostationary orbit.
If you’re wondering how a geostationary orbit is achieved – here’s the video!
https://youtu.be/COCAIPtVA2M
But even SpaceX isn’t fully optimistic about the spacecraft’s full mission profile:
Following stage separation, the first stage of Falcon 9 will attempt an experimental landing on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship. Given this mission’s GTO destination, the first-stage will be subject to extreme velocities and re-entry heating, making a successful landing unlikely.
Want to follow along? Here’s the SpaceX webcast:
