SpaceX reschedules launch of European TV satellite for Wednesday following wind delay; Deets here

SpaceX has announced a one-day delay to the launch of a European TV satellite, rescheduling it for Wednesday, June 19th. Here's everything you need to know.

By Sakina Kaukawala

Published on Jun 19, 2024 | 03:34 PM IST | 30.1K

Image Courtesy: Twitter/ SpaceX

SpaceX has decided to postpone the launch of a European television satellite by one day, to Wednesday, June 19th. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the Falcon 9 rocket carrying SES' Astra 1P satellite was delayed due to high winds at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as per Space.com.

New launch schedule and details

The Falcon 9 rocket is now scheduled to launch at 5:25 p.m. EDT (2125 GMT) on Wednesday. This nearly three-hour launch window allows for optimal weather conditions, which are critical to the mission's success. SpaceX intends to broadcast the launch live through its X account, allowing fans and stakeholders to witness the event in real time.

Falcon 9's mission objectives

Following the liftoff, Falcon 9's first stage will execute a controlled descent to land on the droneship 'Just Read the Instructions', which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This booster has a successful track record, with the upcoming mission being its ninth launch and landing. The landing is scheduled for approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff.

Meanwhile, the upper stage of the Falcon 9 will propel the Astra 1P satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit approximately 35 minutes after launch. Astra 1P will then enter geostationary orbit, which is 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

Satellite mission and service expansion

Astra 1P, part of SES' satellite fleet, is designed to provide TV broadcasting services throughout Europe. After an initial checkout period, it will improve SES's ability to deliver high-quality content to its customers across the region. Despite similarities to the American spaceflight company Astra, the satellite family's name 'Astra' is solely a branding decision by SES.

The Astra 1P mission is SpaceX's 62nd orbital launch this year, showing the company's prolific launch cadence and operational efficiency. Prior to this, Mission 61 saw the successful deployment of Starlink satellites from the Vandenberg Space Force Station in California on Tuesday evening. This robust launch schedule reveals SpaceX's critical role in global space access and satellite deployment capabilities.

ALSO READ: What is Juneteenth? Date, history, significance and more explored