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Editor's note: This article was updated on September 7th at 9:45 am EDT to reflect a one day launch time for Telstar 18V; it will now be launched on September 9th.
F9 / Telstar18V: SpaceX confirms a good hot fire test of a Falcon 9 rocket at CCAFS 40; launch of Telstar 18V scheduled for 23:28 EDT Saturday; Here is an iPhone view of the Hotfire test at 10 miles away pic.twitter.com/KFKilx2ZYS
After a successful engine test, SpaceX is on track to launch the Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday evening, which will be equipped with a Telstar communication satellite. According to a SpaceX tweet, the launch was delayed one day to complete pre-flight checks.
On September 5, SpaceX turned on the nine engines of the rocket, later confirming on Twitter on Saturday, Sept. 8, the launch date of the company's launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida. The launch experienced many delays, but its new launch window of 4 hours was set at 23:28. EDT Saturday (0328 Sunday GMT), according to a Spaceflight Now report. Its new launch window, September 9, should be in a similar time window.
Next, the engineers will have to attach the rocket payload: the Telstar 18 Vantage communication satellite (Telstar 18V abbreviated), which will be shared between Telesat and APT Satellite Co. Ltd. of Canada. from Hong Kong. second satellite of this series, in July; Telstar 18V will be the third in the series, according to a Telesat release.
Like 19V, the latest Telstar will be launched during the last iteration (and final) of the Falcon 9 rocket, Block 5 by SpaceX. turns. According to Telesat, the Telstar 18V will facilitate communications between India and Pakistan to Hawaii, with a potential mission duration of more than 15 years.
For now, the US Air Force's official weather forecast suggests a 60% likelihood of favorable launch conditions.
The last launch of SpaceX by Telstar in July reused the first stage of Block 5; the upcoming launch will use an unused rocket. As usual, SpaceX will try to retake the first step, this time on the drone ship of the company named Of Course, I think I still love you, according to Spaceflight Now.
Email Sarah Lewin at [email protected] or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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