SpaceX is preparing to launch a satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) on behalf of one of its oldest customers: Luxembourg-based SES. The prolific launch company is aiming to bounce back from an unusually quiet period in the launch cadence, highlighted by a last-second interruption when the engines on another of its Falcon 9 rockets started firing.
The mission is scheduled to launch at 5:35 PM EDT (2135 UTC). The mission is scheduled to be the 45th orbital flight from the Florida Space Coast in 2024.
Spaceflight Now will have a live stream about an hour before launch.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, terminal number B1080, will be the ninth launch in the SpaceX fleet. It previously supported the launches of two private astronaut missions for Axiom Space (Ax-2 and Ax-3), the European Space Agency’s Euclid Observatory and four Starlink missions.
About 8.5 minutes after launch, B1080 lands on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Just read the instructions’. If successful, it will be the 84th booster landing for JRTI and the 250th drone landing for SpaceX to date.
Again, the weather will play a role in whether this mission can move forward as planned. A forecast issued Monday by the 45th Weather Squadron shows a 55 percent chance of fair weather, but warns that winds, cumulus clouds and the possibility of lightning are potential threats. Forecasters are also watching upper-level wind shear between the low and mid-gust levels.
A 24-hour backup scenario on Wednesday would have turned out worse weather-wise. The chance of favorable weather will drop to 45 percent and the weather for booster revival will also deteriorate.
SpaceX is working its way through a rare stretch of time without a Falcon 9 launch. Its last launch will be 10 days early if it successfully launches the Astra 1P satellite on June 18.
That’s how many days were last between the launches of Starlink 7-8 on December 8, 2023 and Starlink 6-34 on December 19, 2023. Since the last mission, SpaceX has launched 64 orbital missions, one of which was the Falcon Heavy rocket.
Kiko Dontchev, Vice President of Launch at SpaceX, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) about the ignition during Starlink 10-2’s launch attempt on Friday. Without elaborating, he said what prevented the launch was a “real problem” that would require SpaceX to “examine the hardware of this vehicle in detail.”
“This will be the first week in a long time without a Falcon launch. There will be unplanned shutdowns due to weather or unexpected problems, it depends on how we react,” wrote Dontchev. “Starting a business takes grit, and when things go wrong, our true selves come alive. Bring it!!!”
Welcome back, SES
Aboard what will now be SpaceX’s 61st Falcon 9 launch in 2024 is the Astra 1P satellite, also referred to as SES-24. The Luxembourg telecommunications company is a long-standing customer of SpaceX’s launch services.
In fact, the first payload carried by Falcon 9 to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) was SES-8 on December 3, 2013 on the seventh rocket.
The upcoming Astra 1P satellite continues the legacy of television satellites in the Astra 19.2°E group, which dates back to Astra 1A, which was launched in 1988. There are currently four satellites in use at this orbital position: Astra 1KR, Astra 1L, Astra 1M and Astra 1N.
The Astra 1KR and Astra 1L were manufactured by Lockheed Martin, while the Astra 1M and Astra 1N were manufactured by Astrium (now Airbus Defene and Space). In 2021, SES signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space to produce the Astra 1P and Astra 1Q models.
Both Astra 1P and Astra 1Q will have direct-to-home (DTH) capability, but it will also be “adaptable in orbit and easily deployable to other orbital positions”.
“Our prime TV neighborhood at 19.2°E is one of our most valuable assets and has been key to enabling Europe’s renowned broadcasters to grow their TV audiences over the last 30 years. These two satellites will have the resilience, reliability and redundancy that our video customers need, and will be able to provide uninterrupted premium services well into 2040,” said Steve Collar, CEO of SES, in a 2021 statement. “With advanced satellite technology, in addition we will future-proof our investment and bring a high degree of flexibility to ASTRA 1Q to ensure we meet the evolving needs of all the markets we serve.”
