Falcon 9 for Echostar 23 conducts static fire test
The Falcon 9 that will take EchoStar 23 into orbit conducts a static fire test at LC-39A. Photo Credit: SpaceX
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — On March 9, 2017, SpaceX successfully conducted a static fire test of the Hawthorne, California-based company’s “Full Thrust” Falcon 9 rocket. This is the final milestone in advance of a planned launch set to take place Tuesday, March 14.
If everything goes as planned, the launch window will open at 1:34 a.m. EDT (05:34 GMT). The window closes two and a half hours later at 4:04 a.m. EDT (08:04 GMT).
This flight will mark the first time Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center will be used by a commercial launch service provider to send a commercial satellite to space. Echostar 23 is set to be sent into a geostationary transfer orbit.
Built by Space Systems/Loral, Gunter’s Space Page describes the spacecraft as: a very flexible Ku-band satellite capable of providing service from any of eight different orbital slots. Planned for launch in 2016 it is designed to provide service for 15 years or longer. It will utilize SS/L’s flight-proven SSL-1300 spacecraft bus.
Jason Rhian
Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.
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