SpaceX is targeting Friday, March 17 for launch of the SES-18 and SES-19 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 38-minute launch window opens at 7:38 p.m. ET (23:38 UTC). The 38-minute launch window opens at 7:38 p.m. ET (23:38 UTC). A backup launch opportunity is available on Saturday, March 18 with a 37-minute window opening at the same time.The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, and two Starlink missions. After stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.
The Falcon 9 will aim to release the two Northrop Grumman-built satellites into a “sub-synchronous” transfer orbit with an apogee, or high point, short of the satellites’ final 22,000-mile-high operating altitude in geostationary orbit.In launch configuration, the two nearly identical satellites weigh 15,995 pounds (7,255 kilograms), according to a Northrop Grumman spokesperson. The lower satellite in the dual-payload stack, SES 19, weighs about 100 pounds more than the upper satellite because it carries structural components to directly connect the spacecraft together during the ride into orbit.
SES-18 & 19 vertical on the pad, liftoff set for 7:38 p.m. EDT tonight.
Two SpaceX Falcon 9 launches are on tap today! First, a Starlink mission from Vandenberg at 12:26 PM PDT (19:26 UTC), then a pair of SES communications satellites from Cape Canaveral at 7:38 PM EDT (23:38 UTC).Article by William Graham (@w_d_graham):
👀 It’s happening… #SES18 #SES19
SpaceX recovery ship Bob is 760km downrange to recover the fairing for the upcoming SES 18/19 mission. Just Read the Instructions droneship is a little closer, at 650km, for the Falcon 9 first stage to land.
Falcon 9 vertical at SLC-40 ahead of tonight’s launch of the @SES_Satellites SES-18 and SES-19 mission; teams are keeping an eye on winds at the launch site
The 2nd Falcon 9 launch of the day is set to take place at 7:38pm ET, just 6 minutes after sunset. With that kind of timing, and clear skies overhead, it should be a great show!Watch live: youtube.com/live/NGXD_RPG6…
Well, it's been a good few hours since SpaceX last launched a Falcon 9, so you'll be looking forward to this! 😅Falcon 9 B1069-6 is set to launch SES-18 and SES-19 from SLC-40.Overview:nasaspaceflight.com/2023/03/spacex…NSF Livestream:youtube.com/watch?v=NGXD_R…
NSF streaming today from just 2.1 miles from Falcon 9, closer than usual. Don't worry! It's all okay, the SLD45 has provided that access for today so definitely not complaining about it at all, hopefully we see more chances like this one, it's so cool.
