SpaceX launches Malaysian satellite
Posted: Tue, Jul 14, 2009, 7:37 AM ET (1137 GMT)
A Falcon 1 rocket successfully launched a Malaysian remote sensing satellite late Monday. The Falcon 1 lifted off from Omelek Island on Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific at 11:35 pm EDT Monday (0335 GMT Tuesday) and placed the RazakSAT spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The launch was the second successful one in a row for the Falcon 1, after the first three launches failed to place their payloads in orbit, and the first to put a functional satellite rather than a dummy payload into orbit. The 180-kilogram satellite, built by Malaysian company Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. for the Malaysian government, carries a high-resolution camera, will operate from a near-Equatorial orbit. The launch was delayed by about four and a half hours because of a problem with a helium pressurization system as well as weather. SpaceX plans to make the first launch of its more powerful Falcon 9 launch vehicle later this year.
A Falcon 1 rocket successfully launched a Malaysian remote sensing satellite late Monday. The Falcon 1 lifted off from Omelek Island on Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific at 11:35 pm EDT Monday (0335 GMT Tuesday) and placed the RazakSAT spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The launch was the second successful one in a row for the Falcon 1, after the first three launches failed to place their payloads in orbit, and the first to put a functional satellite rather than a dummy payload into orbit. The 180-kilogram satellite, built by Malaysian company Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. for the Malaysian government, carries a high-resolution camera, will operate from a near-Equatorial orbit. The launch was delayed by about four and a half hours because of a problem with a helium pressurization system as well as weather. SpaceX plans to make the first launch of its more powerful Falcon 9 launch vehicle later this year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, January 9
ESA Plans 65 Missions In 2026 Driven By Earth Observation
Aviation Week — 7:37 am ET (1237 GMT) European Space Agency rethinks Mars plans as it kicks off a ‘mission-dense’ 2026
Aerospace America — 7:37 am ET (1237 GMT) French-U.K. Starlink rival pitches Canada on 'sovereign' satellite service for Arctic military operations
CBC — 7:35 am ET (1235 GMT) Space Force looks to expand West Coast heavy launch capabilities
Defense News — 7:33 am ET (1233 GMT) Air Force, Space Force announce acquisition changes amid Hegseth’s reform push
Defensescoop — 7:33 am ET (1233 GMT) |
