SpaceX launched five satellites for AST Mobile aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral this morning.

Liftoff was at 04:55 AM EDT, and roughly eight minutes later, Booster B1078 successfully landed at Landing Zone 1, five and a half miles away from the launch pad.

At about the same time, the second stage achieved its initial orbit.

Payload

According to AST Mobile, the owner of the BlueBird satellites, “These first five satellites are built on the success of our in-orbit BlueWalker 3 satellite and will provide U.S. nationwide non-continuous service with over 5,600 cells in premium low-band spectrum, with a planned 10-fold increase in processing bandwidth.

“Each BlueBird satellite has a communications array measuring 693 square feet to establish connectivity directly with cell phones via 3GPP-standard frequencies, and in partnership with leading cellular service providers around the world.”

Launch Replay

Next Launch

SpaceX will launch two satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system no early than Sunday, September 15th. The payload was originally planned for launch on Soyuz-ST and then Ariane 6, but both were unavailable — the Soyuz option is kaput because of sanctions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Ariane 6 has launched only once, on July 9, 2024.

• Date: NET September 15, 2024
• Organization: SpaceX / ESA
• Mission: Galileo L13 (FOC FM26 & FM32)
• Rocket: Falcon 9
• Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Launch Window: 06:57 – 07:59 PM EDT
• Payload: Two Galileo navigation satellites