Replace 3:56 p.m. EST: SpaceX up to date the launch time of the mission.
Replace 4:08 p.m. EST: SpaceX pushed again the launch time of the mission.
SpaceX is getting ready to launch a Falcon 9 rocket with a payload that has been shrouded in secrecy to the purpose of not disclosing any specifics of the mission, and never utilizing its unique identify.
All regulatory filings and U.S. authorities businesses just like the Area Pressure and the Federal Aviation Administration name the payload ‘Optus-X,’ whereas SpaceX calls the mission ‘TD7.’ Liftoff from Launch Complicated 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle on Sunday, Nov. 17, is focusing on 5:28 p.m. EST (2228 UTC), about midway via an nearly two-hour launch window, which closes at 6:27 p.m. EST (2327 UTC)
Spaceflight Now can have reside protection starting about an hour previous to liftoff.
Climate for launch is about nearly as good because it will get on Florida’s Area Coast. On Saturday, the forty fifth Climate Squadron forecast a better than 95 p.c probability for favorable climate at liftoff.
Delicate winds and cumulus clouds had been highlights at launch, however the booster restoration space does stay considerably of a watch merchandise.
“A seasonably cool and dry airmass will stay in place throughout the Spaceport over the following few days as a big space of excessive stress slides out of the Nice Lakes and off the coast of the Carolinas,” meteorologists wrote. “With mild onshore movement in place, a low-topped stratocumulus deck is probably going, although that is anticipated to be far too heat for any launch climate issues.”
Following liftoff, SpaceX can have tied the full variety of Area Shuttle launches from Launch Complicated 39A with simply its Falcon 9 rocket at 82 launches every. SpaceX can be near eclipsing the full variety of launches from NASA at that pad.
NASA launched a complete of 94 missions (82 Area Shuttle and 12 Saturn 5) from LC-39A and thus far, SpaceX launched 92 missions (81 Falcon 9 and 11 Falcon Heavy).
The Falcon 9 first stage booster for this mission, tail quantity B1077 within the SpaceX fleet, shall be launching for a sixteenth time. It beforehand supported the launches of three missions to the Worldwide Area Station (Crew-5, CRS-28 and Cygnus NG-20), GPS 3 Area Car 06 and 9 earlier Starlink missions.
Almost 9 minutes after liftoff, B1077 will landing on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ If profitable, this would be the eighty fifth booster touchdown on ASOG and the 369th booster touchdown thus far.
Secret payload
The payload flying on the mission dubbed ‘TD7’ on SpaceX’s webpage will head to a geosynchronous switch orbit, however timing of deployment was not disclosed previous to the launch.
Quite a few publications have provided hypothesis relating to the performance of the Optus-X spacecraft, claiming that it’s the success of a contract introduced in 2022 between Northrop Grumman and SpaceLogistics for a Mission Robotic Car (MRV) spacecraft on behalf of Optus Networks Social gathering Restricted (Optus), an Australian telecommunications firm.
Nevertheless, Spaceflight Now understands that Sunday’s mission isn’t the execution of that contract.
Filings with the U.S. Federal Communications Fee (FCC) state that Optus is a subsidiary of Singtel Optus Pty. Ltd., which in flip is a subsidiary of Singapore Telecom Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., which is in flip is a subsidiary of SingTel Australia Funding Ltd., a British Virgin Islands funding holding firm.
The identify ‘Optus-X’ was referenced by the FAA in its flight schedule and by the U.S. Area Pressure when making its launch climate forecast. The identify additionally appeared in a FCC submitting in late October referring to the usage of an Intelsat floor station for post-launch checkouts:
“On October 28, 2024, Intelsat License LLC was granted particular momentary authority for 30 days, starting on October 28, 2024 via November 26, 2024, to function its Ka-band antenna in Nuevo, CA, to offer launch and early orbit part (LEOP) providers to speak with the Optus X satellite tv for pc on the 29.625 GHz and 29.630 GHz (Earth-to-space) and 19.825 GHz and 19.830 GHz (space-to-Earth) middle frequencies.”
Within the letter requesting that particular momentary authority (STA) dated Sept. 24, 2024, from W. Ray Rutngamlug, Intelsat’s Affiliate Basic Counsel, to FCC Secretary Marlene Dortch, Rutngamlug said in a footnote that Optus X will function on the 87.75 levels east longitude.
“Grant of this STA request will permit Intelsat to assist launch the Optus X satellite tv for pc,” Rutngamlug wrote. “It will permit Optus X to offer capability on the nominal 88.0° E.L. location and thereby promotes the general public curiosity.”
Rutngamlug additionally confirmed Northrop Grumman’s function within the mission.
“Intelsat clarifies that through the Optus X mission, Northrop Grumman will function the mission supervisor,” he wrote. “Northrop Grumman will construct and ship the instructions to the Intelsat antenna, which is able to course of and execute the instructions. Telemetry obtained by Intelsat shall be forwarded to Northrop Grumman.”
A Northrop Grumman official referred questions concerning the mission to Optus, which has not responded to Spaceflight Now’s requests for extra data.
