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.
Replace 6:04 p.m. ESt: SpaceX landed its first stage booster on the droneship, following liftoff of the mission.
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket at sundown with a payload that has been shrouded in secrecy to the purpose of not disclosing any specifics of the mission, and never utilizing its authentic title.
All regulatory filings and U.S. authorities companies, just like the Area Power and the Federal Aviation Administration, name the payload ‘Optus-X,’ whereas SpaceX calls the mission ‘TD7.’ SpaceX’s commentator famous that it was a communications satellite tv for pc throughout the firm’s livestream.
Liftoff from Launch Complicated 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Area Heart on Sunday, Nov. 17, occurred at 5:28 p.m. EST (2228 UTC).
With this launch, SpaceX tied the whole variety of Area Shuttle launches from Launch Complicated 39A with simply its Falcon 9 rocket at 82 launches every. SpaceX can also be near eclipsing the whole 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 to this point, SpaceX launched 93 missions (81 Falcon 9 and 11 Falcon Heavy).
The Falcon 9 first stage booster for this mission, tail quantity B1077 within the SpaceX fleet, launched 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 Automobile 06 and 9 earlier Starlink missions.
Almost 9 minutes after liftoff, B1077 touched down on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ This was the eighty fifth booster touchdown on ASOG and the 369th booster touchdown to this point.
Secret payload
The payload flying on the mission dubbed ‘TD7’ on SpaceX’s webpage headed to a geosynchronous switch orbit, however timing of deployment was not disclosed previous to the launch.
A variety of publications have supplied hypothesis relating to the performance of the Optus-X spacecraft, claiming that it’s the achievement of a contract announced in 2022 between Northrop Grumman and SpaceLogistics for a Mission Robotic Automobile (MRV) spacecraft on behalf of Optus Networks Occasion Restricted (Optus), an Australian telecommunications firm.
Nevertheless, Spaceflight Now understands that Sunday’s mission will not be the execution of that contract. SpaceX affirmed throughout its broadcast that the payload was a communications satellite tv for pc.
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 title ‘Optus-X’ was referenced by the FAA in its flight schedule and by the U.S. Area Power when making its launch climate forecast. The title 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 by way of November 26, 2024, to function its Ka-band antenna in Nuevo, CA, to offer launch and early orbit part (LEOP) companies 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) heart frequencies.”
Within the letter requesting that particular momentary authority (STA) dated Sept. 24, 2024, from W. Ray Rutngamlug, Intelsat’s Affiliate Common 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. “This can 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 position within the mission.
“Intelsat clarifies that throughout 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 can course of and execute the instructions. Telemetry obtained by Intelsat might be forwarded to Northrop Grumman.”
A Northrop Grumman official referred questions in regards to the mission to Optus, which has not responded to Spaceflight Now’s requests for extra info.
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