Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA - A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket made history on Sunday night, launching for a record-tying 22nd time and sending two satellites into orbit to provide broadband coverage in the Arctic region.
Falcon 9 blasting off carrying Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) spacecraft Image Credit: SpaceX
The rocket, carrying the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) spacecraft, lifted off at 10:02 p.m. EDT (7:02 p.m. local California time; 0202 GMT on Aug. 12) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, piercing through coastal fog and rising into the evening sky.
The Falcon 9's first stage successfully landed on the SpaceX drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean about 8.5 minutes after launch, marking its 22nd launch and landing. This achievement ties the company's rocket-reuse record, set in June during a Starlink internet satellite launch.
The upper stage deployed the first ASBM satellite 42.5 minutes after liftoff, followed by the second satellite five minutes later. The mission aims to expand broadband coverage to the Arctic region for the U.S. Space Force and Space Norway, with the satellites carrying multiple instruments, including military payloads and a commercial payload for Viasat.
Payload
At the heart of the ASBM mission are two satellites, ASBM-1 and ASBM-2, developed by Northrop Grumman. These satellites will carry a range of payloads, including Viasat's Global Xpress 10 Ka-
band, X-band for Norway's Ministry of Defence, and EPS-R for the USSF.
ASBM satellite in anechoic chamber for NFR testing (Image credit: Northrop Grumman)
The spacecraft platform for the ASBM mission is Northrop Grumman's GEOStar 3, with detailed specifications tailored to each satellite's unique requirements. Once launched, the satellites will be operated by KSAT, ensuring seamless management of the ground segment.
The ASBM mission addresses a critical need for broadband infrastructure in the Arctic, where terrestrial connectivity is lacking. This initiative will cater to both commercial and strategic interests, driven by the increasing importance of the Arctic region due to climate change. By providing reliable broadband coverage, the ASBM mission will play a vital role in enhancing space domain awareness, communications, and research in the Arctic.
This launch was part of a busy weekend for SpaceX, following the successful launch of 21 Starlink satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday morning. However, a subsequent Starlink launch attempt from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sunday morning was aborted with 46 seconds left in the countdown.
Add comment
Comments