Wednesday, October 11, 2017

SpaceX Aims At Yet Another Launch, Today

Los Angeles-based space rocket developer SpaceX is targeting yet another launch of a rocket this week, this time, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX said the EchoStar 105/SES-11 has a two hour launch window opening today, Wednesday, October 11 at 6:53 p.m. EDT (22:53 UTC). The launch will place the EchoStar 105/SES-11 into what is the most challenging orbit for a rocket, Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). The launch will re-use the Falcon 9 which was used in the February launch of the CRS-10 resupply mission to the International Space Station. As part of the launch, SpaceX said it will again attempt to land the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket on a droneship in the Atlantic. SpaceX already had a successful launch on Monday, of ten Iridium satellites, from Vandenberg Air Force Base just north of Lompoc.