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SpaceX may be about to reuse a Falcon 9 first-floor booster for its third launch, the first time a booster has been used more than twice for missions. According to a report released Tuesday, the feat could be achieved with a launch scheduled for November 19 at the earliest.
The move, as reported by Teslarati, would be a big step forward in the space flight race, paving the way for a future Mars mission. The launch of SSO-A will send 74 small satellites or less, assembled by third-party industries, Spaceflight Industries, and weighing approximately 4,000 kg in total. The stack moved 1,075 miles from Seattle as part of a convoy, where it will travel another 357 miles to reach Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the site of SpaceX's new west coast landing pad. This reminder could become the second launch to use the new ground pad.
See more: The new SpaceX goal: 24 hours of reflection
The report notes that SpaceX will probably use Booster B1048 or B1046, both of which use the highly reusable "Block 5" concept. The former had already flown during the Iridium NEXT-7 mission on July 25th and the SAOCOM 1A mission on October 8th. The latter was the first "Block 5" to fly in a public mission, May 11 with the launch of Bangabandhu-1, and August 7 with the launch of Merah Putih.
The launch of SSO-A could prove the strength of the "Block 5" and pave the way for more ambitious launches. CEO Elon Musk previously said his goal was to use one booster for a flight, to put it down, refuel it and send it back within 24 hours, to reach a state where it offers "real reusability operational, like an airplane ". should serve 10 reminder launches with minor checks, and 100 launches with renovations. This would save some of the estimated $ 62 million costs associated with building a Falcon 9.
Prior to the official launch, SpaceX is expected to complete the Es'hail 2 mission no earlier than November 14th. The mission will provide Internet and television services in Qatar and surrounding countries. It is expected that it will take off from the landing area of Cape Canaveral Florida, on the other side of the country.
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