On Wednesday, July 26, SpaceX's formidable Falcon Heavy rocket is set to launch for the seventh time, and people will have the opportunity to witness the spectacular event live. Space.com reported that the scheduled liftoff time is at 11:04 p.m. EDT (0304 GMT on July 27) from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket sits at launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on April 11, 2019.
Where To Watch SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket's Launch Live
The live coverage of the launch is presented by SpaceX, through their website and the company's channels. The live broadcast is expected to commence approximately 15 minutes before the launch.
This mission promises to be a groundbreaking one, as it carries the largest commercial communications satellite ever constructed, known as Jupiter 3, as confirmed by its operator, Hughes Network Systems. The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force (USSF) forecasts an 85% probability of favorable weather for tonight's expected launch.
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About the Hughes JUPITER 3 Mission
A crucial aspect of the mission is the satellite's size. Jupiter 3 has a payload mass of 9.2 metric tons, which makes it the heaviest geostationary satellite ever launched, according to Hughes Network Systems' press release. Hughes added that once fully deployed, JUPITER 3 will have a wingspan comparable to that of a commercial airliner.
Despite its weight, the Falcon Heavy, capable of over 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and delivering 26.7 metric tons to GTO, is well-suited for the task.
Yahoo! News reported that Jupiter 3 is developed by Maxar and showcases a revolutionary architecture with significant advancements. This next-generation satellite is ultra-high-density, doubling the capacity of the Hughes Jupiter fleet.
Once operational, it will offer various services like in-flight Wi-Fi, maritime connections, enterprise networks, backhaul for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and Community Wi-Fi solutions, apart from satellite internet connectivity across North and South America.
Falcon Heavy Ready to Launch JUPITER 3 to Space
The Falcon Heavy stands at 230 feet (70 meters), comprising three reusable Falcon 9 nine-engine cores. In this mission, both side boosters will attempt vertical landings around 8 minutes after launch, while the central booster will be lost at sea.
As per Space.com, this marks the seventh mission for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and the third for 2023, also being SpaceX's 50th mission of the year, which is an impressive achievement for the company founded by Elon Musk.
Moreover, the Falcon Heavy is ranked as the second-most powerful rocket currently operational, following NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), and comes before SpaceX's Starship, which is not yet in use.
Two of the rocket's first stages are designed for reusability, with SpaceX attempting to land them back on land around 7.5 minutes after liftoff. However, the central booster will not have enough fuel to return and will be discarded into the ocean after launch.
The immense size of Jupiter 3 and its destination in geostationary orbit (GEO), located approximately 22,200 miles (35,700 kilometers) above Earth, are reflected in this aspect of the mission.
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