Three launches in four days this week, if everything goes as planned.
First up is the self immolating Delta IV Heavy early Thursday morning at 2:12 AM, launching what is likely a massive electronic intelligence gathering satellite ( these are allegedly the largest satellites ever launched approaching 100 meters wide ). The Delta IV is currently the only rocket certified to launch these birds.
On Friday, a little history will be made. Launches from the Cape are typically launched east or north east to avoid overflying landmasses ( although the STS 36 shuttle mission in the early 90's received special national security clearance to overfly parts of the east coast for an imaging satellite that only the space shuttle could launch ). For the first time since 1960, a mission will launch almost due south and will overfly Cuba ( the 1960 mission had a cow fatality from rocket debris ). This will also have the first stage land at the Cape, which hasn't happened since March of this year. Launch is planned for 7:19 PM.
Sunday, another SpaceX launch of more Starlink satellites as Elon Musk builds up his low earth orbit broadband satellite constellation. This Falcon 9 first stage will land on one of the drone barges in the Atlantic. Lift off is planned for 10:08 AM.
First up is the self immolating Delta IV Heavy early Thursday morning at 2:12 AM, launching what is likely a massive electronic intelligence gathering satellite ( these are allegedly the largest satellites ever launched approaching 100 meters wide ). The Delta IV is currently the only rocket certified to launch these birds.
On Friday, a little history will be made. Launches from the Cape are typically launched east or north east to avoid overflying landmasses ( although the STS 36 shuttle mission in the early 90's received special national security clearance to overfly parts of the east coast for an imaging satellite that only the space shuttle could launch ). For the first time since 1960, a mission will launch almost due south and will overfly Cuba ( the 1960 mission had a cow fatality from rocket debris ). This will also have the first stage land at the Cape, which hasn't happened since March of this year. Launch is planned for 7:19 PM.
Sunday, another SpaceX launch of more Starlink satellites as Elon Musk builds up his low earth orbit broadband satellite constellation. This Falcon 9 first stage will land on one of the drone barges in the Atlantic. Lift off is planned for 10:08 AM.
