While strong winds initially caused a delay, today SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is on its was to deliver EchoStar XXIII, a commercial communications satellite for EchoStar Corporation, to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
The EchoStar XXIII lifted off from the historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX will not attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage after launch due to mission SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver EchoStar XXIII, a commercial communications satellite for EchoStar Corporation, to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Because the payload is a six-ton EchoStar 23 spacecraft the rocket’s first stage won't have enough reserve fuel to attempt a powered descent back through the atmosphere and landing. This was the first Falcon 9 to fly sans landing gear in almost two years SpaceX will not attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage after launch due to mission requirements.
EchoStar XXIII is a highly flexible, Ku-band broadcast satellite services (BSS) satellite with four main reflectors and multiple sub-reflectors supporting multiple mission profiles. Initial commercial deployment of EchoStar XXIII will be at 45 degrees West, and the Satellite End of Life (EOL) Power is 20 kilowatts (kW).
EchoStar operates the world’s fourth-largest commercial geosynchronous fleet, with 25 satellites. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its EchoStar Satellite Services, EchoStar Technologies and Hughes Network Systems business segments.
EchoStar Satellite Services (ESS) is an industry-leading provider of satellite communications solutions, video distribution, data communications and backhaul services to meet the needs of media and broadcast organizations, direct-to-home providers, enterprise customers and government service providers.