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SpaceX recorded 18 launches in 2017, making it the busiest year for the aerospace company. This year, they're on track to break that record with 22.
Five more launches are scheduled in SpaceX's calendar before 2018 wraps up, all of them happening in Florida and California.
The experience of witnessing a space launch in one of the most thrilling and awe-inspiring sights. But it's a show only for those who live in the vicinity of the launch pads.
Fortunately, we can get a glimpse of these epics on SpaceX's YouTube Channel, where they often broadcast their launches live. The company is still in the process of becoming more streamed, but at this stage, it is more likely that they will be broadcasted.
Here's where each of the remaining launches is set to go down so you can slip them into your stargazing agenda. Note that we do not need to be able to do this anymore.
| Mission | Date and time (EST) | Date and time (AEDT) |
|---|---|---|
| Es'hail 2 | November 14 @ 15: 46-17: 27 | November 15 @ 7: 46-9: 27 |
| SSO-A | November 19 @ 13:32 | November 20 @ 5:32 |
| CRS-16 | December 4 @ 13:38 | December 5 @ 5:38 |
| GPS III-1 | December 15 @ 9:08 | December 16 @ 1:08 |
| Iridium 8 | December 30 @ 11:38 | December 31 @ 3:38 |
First in line is SpaceX's mission Es'hail 2, commissioned by the Qatar Satellite Company and scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center between 3:46 pm and 5:27 pm on November 14 EST (7: 46-9: 27am, November 15 AEDT) . Aside from being able to provide premium television content in the Middle East and North Africa, Es'hail 2 also carries equipment that will allow amateur radio geostationary communication from Brazil to India for the very first time.
The second mission is scheduled for 1:32 pm on November 19 EST (5:32 am, November 20 AEST) when the Falcon 9 rocket will take Spaceflight Industries' SSO-A mission into space from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
This is a special one, because it will be the largest single rideshare mission from a US-based launch vehicle in history. This single launch will take place from around the world, including Australia and Australia. Yep, we are Aussies part of that party.
Following the historical SSO-A mission, SpaceX will be coming back to Cape Canaveral in Florida to launch the CRS-16, a NASA-contracted commercial resupply service mission to the International Space Station. This launch is slated for 1:38 pm on December 4 EST (5:38 am, December 5 AEDT).
The fourth generation of the GPS III-1, the first of a series of ten satellites designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin to update the GPS operation for both civilian and military users in the United States.
This government-contracted mission is scheduled for 9:08 am on December 15 EST (1:08 am, December 16 AEDT). GPS III-1 is expected to launch from Cape Canaveral.
The final launch of the year will be the Iridium-8 mission, slated to happen on December 30 at 11:38 am EST (3:38 am, December 31 AEDT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Iridium-8 is part of a series of satellites owned by Iridium Communications and will be deployed in the United States.
If all these missions are successful, SpaceX will end in 2018 with a very high note, setting a new record of 22 launches in what will be their most successful year ever.
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