SpaceX to retry U.S. satellite national security launch

Science & Tech 21:45 19.12.2018

Elon Musk’s SpaceX was poised on Wednesday to launch a long-delayed navigation satellite for the U.S. military, trying for a second day to complete its first designated national security mission for the United States.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a roughly $500 million global positioning system (GPS) satellite built by Lockheed Martin Corp, is due to take off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral shortly after 9 a.m. local time (1400 GMT).

On Tuesday, SpaceX halted the planned launch minutes before liftoff due to a technical issue, though it said afterward the rocket and payload “remain healthy.”

A successful launch would be a significant victory for Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur who spent years trying to break into the lucrative market for military space launches long dominated by Lockheed and Boeing Co.

It marks SpaceX’s first so-called National Security Space mission, as defined by the U.S. military, SpaceX said.

SpaceX sued the U.S. Air Force in 2014 in protest over the military’s award of a multibillion-dollar, non-compete contract for 36 rocket launches to United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Boeing and Lockheed. It later dropped the lawsuit after the Air Force agreed to open up competition.

In 2016, SpaceX won an $83 million Air Force contract to launch the GPS III satellite, which will have a lifespan of 15 years.

Wednesday’s launch is set to be the first of 32 satellites in production by Lockheed under contracts worth a combined $12.6 billion for the Air Force GPS III program, Lockheed spokesman Chip Eschenfelder said.

“Once fully operational, this latest generation of GPS satellites will bring new capabilities to users, including three times greater accuracy and up to eight times the anti-jamming capabilities,” said Air Force spokesman William Russell.

The launch was originally scheduled for 2014 but has been hobbled by production delays, the Air Force said.

The next GPS III satellite is due to launch in mid-2019, Eschenfelder said, while subsequent satellites undergo testing in the company’s Colorado processing facility.

Slovakia’s prime minister injured in shooting - VIDEO

News line

ECB warns Europe of negative risks due to high public debt
21:27 16.05.2024
France to send another 1,000 gendarmes to New Caledonia
21:00 16.05.2024
Netanyahu Says Israel Can 'Win' Fight Against Hamas in Gaza Without US Help
20:26 16.05.2024
Kazakhstan and Latvia agree on developing Middle Corridor
20:00 16.05.2024
2 Hezbollah fighters killed in Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon
19:30 16.05.2024
Climate activists dye luxury stores in Rome
19:00 16.05.2024
France to send another 1,000 gendarmes to New Caledonia
France to send another 1,000 gendarmes to New Caledonia
18:55 16.05.2024
Assessing Regional Protests: Expert Weighs Impact on Azerbaijan
18:30 16.05.2024
Incomes of Azerbaijani population rise by over 4%
18:00 16.05.2024
Azerbaijan uses colors in weather warning for first time
17:30 16.05.2024
Iran’s flood crisis: Rising waters claim lives
17:00 16.05.2024
Azerbaijani, Armenian parliament speakers have short conversation ahead of their main meeting
16:30 16.05.2024
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Belarus familiarize themselves with Caspian Agro and InterFood Azerbaijan exhibitions
16:00 16.05.2024
NGO chief: Armenia must obtain Azerbaijan's permission for cross-border mining activities
15:30 16.05.2024
Zelensky in Kharkiv: Situation 'difficult' but 'under control,' Russia suffers losses
15:00 16.05.2024
Azerbaijan and Belarus sign documents
14:41 16.05.2024
Insights from IEPF President Umud Mirzayev: Impact of Neighboring Processes on Azerbaijan
14:30 16.05.2024
Slovakia 'on the edge of civil war' from political tension, interior minister says
14:09 16.05.2024
Lukashenko: No closed topics in Belarus-Azerbaijan relations
13:56 16.05.2024
ADA University Hosts "Climate and Water Summit Towards COP29"
13:18 16.05.2024
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry retorts to French Minister of Interior
13:00 16.05.2024
Man arrested for threatening Serbian President Vucic
Man arrested for threatening Serbian President Vucic
12:48 16.05.2024
Kanako Mabuchi: UN fully committed to supporting COP29 Presidency
12:37 16.05.2024
MP Konul Nurullayeva: COP29 will rally nations worldwide to combat climate change
12:25 16.05.2024
Pashinyan calls signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan delimitation protocol great success
Pashinyan calls signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan delimitation protocol great success
11:55 16.05.2024
Armenia to open embassy in Cyprus
Armenia to open embassy in Cyprus
11:45 16.05.2024
One-on-one meeting between Azerbaijani and Belarusian Presidents starts
11:32 16.05.2024
Official welcome ceremony held for President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko
11:22 16.05.2024
Moscow hosts concert program entitled "Azerbaijan and Russia: manifestation of friendship"
Moscow hosts concert program entitled "Azerbaijan and Russia: manifestation of friendship"
11:21 16.05.2024
Baku court was appealed over extension of Ruben Vardanyan's prison term
11:15 16.05.2024
Azerbaijan, Belarus expanding co-op in urban planning and architecture
11:15 16.05.2024
EDB allocates $1M to eliminate consequences of floods in Kazakhstan
EDB allocates $1M to eliminate consequences of floods in Kazakhstan
10:50 16.05.2024
Slovak PM Fico still in life-threatening condition
10:35 16.05.2024
Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova arrives in Swiss Confederation on a Working visit
Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova arrives in Swiss Confederation on a Working visit
10:30 16.05.2024
Oil price sees increase in world markets
Oil price sees increase in world markets
10:25 16.05.2024
New pillars to be installed on Azerbaijan-Armenia border
New pillars to be installed on Azerbaijan-Armenia border
10:16 16.05.2024
Jury selected in New York on case of pro-Armenian Senator Menendez
10:05 16.05.2024
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria discuss bilateral relations
09:55 16.05.2024
Slovak PM expected to survive assassination attempt, ally says - Media
Slovak PM expected to survive assassination attempt, ally says - Media
09:48 16.05.2024
Xi Jinping meets Russia’s Vladimir Putin on state visit to China
Xi Jinping meets Russia’s Vladimir Putin on state visit to China
09:45 16.05.2024
Hamısı