SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Galaxy 31, 32 satellites
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches Galaxy 31 and Galaxy 32 into orbit. Credit: Theresa Cross / Spaceflight Insider
At 11:06 a.m. EST (16:06 UTC) Nov. 12, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket left Earth with two telecommunication satellites, Galaxy 31 and Galaxy 32, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The launch date was pushed from Nov. 8 due to Florida’s second Hurricane, Nicole, which arrived just over 30 days after the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian in late September.
Credit: Theresa Cross / Spaceflight Insider
Today’s payload was boosted to geosynchronous transfer orbit. The first stage of the rocket, core B1051, performed its 14th and final flight after a 114-day turnaround. The stage was not recovered and as such had no landing legs or grid fins.
SpaceX recovery teams are, however, expected to recover the twin fairings from the sea by support ship Bob staged 470 miles (760 kilometers) downrange.
The two Galaxy satellites launched for Intelsat are set to replace the company’s aging satellites above the United States.
The C-band communication satellites will be in service for television broadcasting throughout North America and are a part of six new satellites ordered by Intelsat with a bonus of $4.87 billion from the Federal Communication Commission if all six are operational by 2023.
The FCC aims to clear the 300 MHz spectrum used for cellular 5G networks.
Credit: Sean Costello / Spaceflight Insider
Video courtesy of SpaceX
Theresa Cross
Theresa Cross grew up on the Space Coast. It’s only natural that she would develop a passion for anything “Space” and its exploration. During these formative years, she also discovered that she possessed a talent and love for defining the unique quirks and intricacies that exist in mankind, nature, and machines. Hailing from a family of photographers—including her father and her son, Theresa herself started documenting her world through pictures at a very early age. As an adult, she now exhibits an innate photographic ability to combine what appeals to her heart and her love of technology to deliver a diversified approach to her work and artistic presentations. Theresa has a background in water chemistry, fluid dynamics, and industrial utility.
