Spacex Falcon 9 Launch of Amos-17 Satellite Scheduled for Sat/Sun Aug 3/4 or Maybe Not? [UPDATED]
[UPDATE (20190802_112243 UTC): SpaceX tweeted:
Team is setting up an additional static fire test of Falcon 9 after replacing a suspect valve. Will confirm updated target launch date for AMOS-17 once complete. (3:06 PM - 1 Aug 2019)
Here's hoping everything is nominal. --martyb]
Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete and team is assessing data-targeting August 3 for launch of AMOS-17 from Pad 40 in Florida
- SpaceX (@SpaceX)
While a successful static fire test isn't considered a huge milestone anymore, it's particularly important in this case because the customer, Spacecom, previously lost a satellite payload on a SpaceX flight in 2016. As a result, this launch will be provided to Spacecom free of charge, after that anomaly during the static fire testing resulted in an explosion of the launch vehicle and Spacecom's AMOS-6 satellite.
The new satellite, known as AMOS-17, will provide telecommunications access across the Middle East, Africa and Europe and will eventually finish up in a geostationary orbit around the Earth.
The launch schedule at Spaceflight Now has better data on the launch date and time:
Launch time: 2252-0020 GMT on 3rd/4th (6:52-8:20 p.m. EDT on 3rd)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FloridaA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Amos 17 communications satellite. Built by Boeing and owned by Spacecom Ltd. of Israel, Amos 17 will provide high-throughput broadband connectivity and other communications services over Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Delayed from May 27, June and July.
SpaceX regularly provides a live stream of its launches; this story will be updated when such a link becomes available to us.
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