Wednesday, June 15, 2016

SpaceX Plans Another Launch Today For EUTELSAT, ABS

Space launches by Hawthorne-based SpaceX are almost becoming as regular as scheduled service at the local bus stop, as the company is planning yet, another satellite launch today, this time for satellite operators Eutelsat and ABS. According to SpaceX, the launch window for its Eutelsat/ABS mission opens today at 10:29 a.m. ET. The mission, if successful, will deliver two, commercial communications satellites to Geostationary Transfer Orbits (GTO). SpaceX said it will again attempt a landing of its Falcon 9 first stage on its drone ship, which it has now done successfully twice before. The EUTELSAT 117 West B and ABS-2A satellites were built by Boeing Satellite Systems. EUTELSAT 117 West B will serve Latin America, and ABS-2A serves Africa, MENA, Russia, South Asia and South East Asia. SpaceX is again webcasting the launch on its web site.