SpaceX gears up for Falcon 9 launch carrying South Korean satellite
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket set for launch with satellite payload
SpaceX is gearing up for the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a satellite payload for South Korean satellite operator KT SAT. The launch is scheduled to take place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with a launch window opening at 7:32 AM EST (12:32 UTC) on January 13, 2023.
The Falcon 9 rocket will carry the KT SAT 5A satellite into orbit. KT SAT 5A is a geostationary communications satellite designed to provide high-throughput broadband services across South Korea, including remote and rural areas. The satellite is equipped with a variety of advanced technologies, including a high-power Ka-band payload and multiple spot beams, enabling it to deliver high-speed internet connectivity to users.
Falcon 9 to launch rideshare mission with additional payloads
In addition to the KT SAT 5A satellite, the Falcon 9 rocket will also carry several rideshare payloads as part of SpaceX's SmallSat Rideshare Program. These payloads include satellites from a variety of companies and organizations, including:
- Alba Orbital's Unicorn-2B satellite
- Astrocast's four second-generation nanosatellites
- Aurora Insight's AURORA-4A satellite
- D-Orbit's ION-SCV009 satellite
- Exolaunch's EXOpod deployer with multiple customer payloads
- FOSSA Systems' FOSSA-S1 satellite
- Hiber's Hiberband microsatellite
- Kepler Communications' KSF1 satellite
- SpaceX's Starlink satellites
- University of Arizona's CubeSat
Launch details and mission timeline
The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch window opens at 7:32 AM EST (12:32 UTC) on January 13, 2023. The launch will be webcast live on SpaceX's website and YouTube channel.
Following liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage will booster will separate from the second stage and return to Earth for a propulsive landing on the SpaceX drone ship, "Just Read the Instructions," stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The second stage will continue to orbit, deploying the KT SAT 5A satellite and the rideshare payloads into their intended orbits.
SpaceX's history of successful Falcon 9 launches
SpaceX has a long history of successful Falcon 9 launches, with over 175 successful missions to date. The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket that is designed to be reusable, with the first stage booster returning to Earth after launch for refurbishment and reuse on future missions. This reusability significantly reduces the cost of space launch and has enabled SpaceX to offer more affordable launch services to its customers.
The upcoming launch of the Falcon 9 with the KT SAT 5A satellite and the rideshare payloads represents another important milestone for SpaceX. The mission will further demonstrate the company's capabilities in providing reliable and cost-effective launch services for a variety of satellite operators and organizations.
