{"id":10016,"date":"2024-09-12T20:48:21","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T12:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacex-launches-five-bluebird-satellites-on-falcon-9-flight-from-cape-canaveral\/"},"modified":"2024-09-12T20:48:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T12:48:21","slug":"spacex-launches-five-bluebird-satellites-on-falcon-9-flight-from-cape-canaveral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacex-launches-five-bluebird-satellites-on-falcon-9-flight-from-cape-canaveral\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX launches five BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Update:<\/strong> The Falcon 9 lifted off on time and successfully deployed the five BlueBird satellites.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67352\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67352\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912-BlueBird-1-5-Launch-Adam-678x448.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"448\" class=\"size-large wp-image-67352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912-BlueBird-1-5-Launch-Adam-678x448.jpg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912-BlueBird-1-5-Launch-Adam-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912-BlueBird-1-5-Launch-Adam-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912-BlueBird-1-5-Launch-Adam.jpg 978w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67352\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the first five of AST SpaceMobile\u2019s BlueBird satellites from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Image: Adam Bernstein\/Spaceflight Now.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67338\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67338\" style=\"width: 876px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67338\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_F9_prelaunch.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"876\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_F9_prelaunch.jpeg 876w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_F9_prelaunch-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_F9_prelaunch-678x452.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_F9_prelaunch-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67338\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch five of AST SpaceMobile\u2019s BlueBird satellites from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Image: SpaceX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch with the first five commercial satellites for AST SpaceMobile\u2019s new cellular constellation. The satellites, called \u2018BlueBird,\u2019 are a precursor to the next generation of its satellites.<\/p>\n<p>Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is set for 4:52 a.m. EDT (0852 UTC), which is the opening of a four-hour window. However, weather may prove to be a spoiler for the launch opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about one hour prior to liftoff.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Oeq5HVrfpFQ?si=QiqloIRKc07hGgP1\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Weather heading into the launch opportunity is far from ideal. The 45th Weather Squadron forecast just a 30 percent chance of favorable weather during the launch window.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA stalled front stretching across the region and above normal atmospheric moisture will continue elevated chances of showers and thunderstorms across the Spaceport this week,\u201d meteorologists wrote. \u201cThe front may be right overhead for the initial launch window early Thursday morning, and combined with a land breeze, the Probability of Violation will be on the higher end, with the Cumulus Clouds Rule, Thick Cloud Layers Rule and Surface Electric Fields Rule all possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A 24-hour pivot would improve the weather up to a coin toss. One fortunate part of the mission for SpaceX is that the booster supporting the mission, tail number B1078, will be touching down at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) following stage separation. That means weather at a droneship site won\u2019t be a potential roadblock to launch.<\/p>\n<p>Prior to the BlueBird launch, B1078 flew 12 times, supporting a Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station, the national security mission dubbed USSF-124, a pair of SES\u2019 O3b mPOWER satellites and nine Starlink flights.<\/p>\n<h4>BlueBirds fly<\/h4>\n<p>The mission is the second launch for AST SpaceMobile, a company that describes itself as one which is \u201cbuilding the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also a publicly traded company company on the NASDAQ under \u201cASTS.\u201d It first launched on another SpaceX mission, when it sent up its BlueWalker-3 satellite.<\/p>\n<p>Each of the five BlueBird satellites will include a communications array that extends to 693-square-feet \u201cto establish connectivity directly with cell phones via 3GPP-standard frequencies, and in partnership with leading cellular service providers around the world.\u201d The forthcoming first generation of Block 2 satellites will be 2,400-square-feet.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67339\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67339\" style=\"width: 876px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67339\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_satellites.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"876\" height=\"493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_satellites.jpeg 876w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_satellites-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_satellites-678x381.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240912_BlueBird_1-5_satellites-768x432.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67339\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the BlueBird Block 1 satellites before they were encapsulated inside a pair of Falcon 9 payload fairings. Image: SpaceX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In early August, the company announced the reception of an initial license for space-based operations from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This allows AST SpaceMobile to \u201cto launch and operate V, S and UHF frequencies to support gateway, feeder link and telemetry, tracking, and control operations for the first five commercial BlueBird satellites,\u201d according to AST SpaceMobile.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis regulatory milestone is a significant step to targeting 100% nationwide coverage from space of the continental United States on premium cellular spectrum,\u201d said Scott Wisniewski, President of AST SpaceMobile, in a statement. \u201cThrough our strategic partnerships with companies like AT&amp;T, Verizon, Vodafone and our other key partners around the world, we aim to enhance cellular connectivity globally, essentially eliminating dead zones and empowering remote areas with space-based cellular broadband connectivity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These first five, Block 1 satellites will allow AST SpaceMobile to begin beta testing of nationwide, non-continuous service through AT&amp;T and Verizon. The mission has been delayed for years, in part due to supply chain issues, according to quarterly earnings reports.<\/p>\n<p>Back in 2022, Space News reported that the initial five satellites would need to be \u201cof similar size and weight\u201d of the BlueWalker 3 prototype. According to its second quarter earnings summary, its about 95 percent through manufacturing and producing 17 Block 2 satellites at its manufacturing facilities in Tessas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Update: The Falcon 9 lifted off on time and successfully deployed the five BlueBird satellites. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the first five of AST SpaceMobile\u2019s BlueBird satellites from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Image: Adam Bernstein\/Spaceflight Now. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch five of AST SpaceMobile\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[575,1258,479,316],"class_list":["post-10016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-ast-spacemobile","tag-bluebird","tag-falcon-9","tag-spacex"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10016"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10016"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10016\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}