SpaceX SES-9 Launch
Today Monday February 22, 2016 SpaceX will conduct its static Fire Test of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust in preparation of the scheduled Wednesday February 24 liftoff at 6:46:00 PM (18:46:00 EST) or 11:46:00 PM (23:46:00 UTC). Scheduled for an initial launch in 2015, it was delayed due to the loss of the CRS-7 mission 139 seconds into the flight close to 3 seconds left before MECO (Main Engine Cut Off) which occurs at 142.2 seconds or 2 minutes 37 seconds into the flight. The ensuing investigation into the accident delayed the schedule launches of the entire SpaceX launch manifest.
SES-9 will be sent to a position at an orbital slot of 108.2° E and provide incremental as well as replacement capacity to the well established slot over Asia, where it will be co-located with the existing satellites. The satellite will expand SES’s capability to provide DTH broadcasting and other communications services in Northeast Asia, South Asia & Indonesia, as well as maritime communications for vessels in the Indian Ocean. This will be the second launch of Falcon 9 full thrust. It will be co-located with the SES-7 satellite.
(Personal note my daughter saw her first rocket launch at 4 months of age in daddies arms watched the SES-8 mission from Polk County at a park that we took our dog to.)
(above) SES-8 lift-off launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 on 3 December 2013, 22:41 UTC
(above) SES-9 High Def Render of what she will look like in orbit. Photo Credit: SES
(above) SES-9 in the clean room being outfitted and packaged prior to installation in the payload fairing for the SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.2. Photo Credits: Boeing Aerospace
(above) SpaceX Orbcomm OG2 mission on Dec 21, 2015 (Falcon 9 v1.2 Full Thrust)
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