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<\/p>\nHot on the heels of its first dedicated mission via the Falcon 9 launch of the SSO-A mission late last year, Spaceflight is preparing for its first rideshare mission to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). The Falcon 9 launch of primary payload Nusantara Satu (PSN VI) \u2013 now set to launch from SLC-40 No Earlier Than (NET) Feb 21 \u2013 will include two passengers using Spaceflight\u2019s rideshare option, which the company notes are part of its evolving offerings.<\/p>\n
The upcoming launch of SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket loft the Indonesian communications satellite, named Nusantara Satu (PSN VI), en route to its operational destination at 146 degrees East longitude. There it will provide service throughout South East Asia and includes a High Throughput Satellite (HTS) payload for service in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Along for the ride will be two secondary passengers, under the stewardship of Spaceflight \u2013 rideshare and mission management provider.<\/p>\n
It follows a dedicated launch on a Falcon 9 when the SSO-A mission launched 64 unique smallsats from 34 organizations from 17 countries in December 2018 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.\n<\/p>\n
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SSO-A mission launches on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg \u2013 photo by Sam Sun for NSF\/L2<\/p>\n
The two Spaceflight rideshare passengers on the upcoming mission are destined for two different orbits.<\/p>\n
One payload has been known for some time, with SpaceIL\u2019s four-legged lunar spacecraft, which was competing in the Google Lunar XPrize, set to be the smallest spacecraft to land on the Moon.<\/p>\n
Named Beresheet Hebrew for \u201cin the beginning\u201d<\/i>), it will represent Israel\u2019s first spacecraft and the world\u2019s first privately funded spacecraft to reach the Moon.<\/p>\n
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The lander heads to the surface of the Moon \u2013 via SpaceIL<\/p>\n
It will take a while to get to its lunar destination, first orbiting Earth, before gradually increasing its apogee until it can maneuver to be captured by the Moon\u2019s gravity. It will travel to the Moon\u2019s surface under its own power, a voyage taking nearly two months.<\/p>\n
Its mission is to transmit photos and video of its new home and conduct scientific measurements. Upon the mission\u2019s completion, it will remain as a lunar time capsule commemorating this historic accomplishment.<\/p>\n
Space Shuttle (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n Information into the second spacecraft was released on Monday, with Spaceflight noting it will also launch the U.S. Air Force Research Lab\u2019s (AFRL) experimental small satellite, S5.<\/p>\n The AFRL spacecraft, built by Blue Canyon Technologies, will remain attached to the Nusantara Satu satellite as they continue their journey to Geostationary Orbit (GEO). Before the telecommunications satellite reaches its final GEO position, it will separate the S5 spacecraft which will then power on and start its mission.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an important mission for Spaceflight as we expand and evolve our customer offerings,\u201d said Curt Blake, CEO of Spaceflight. \u201cThe launches we pursue continue to get more sophisticated and demonstrate that our expertise goes beyond identifying and scheduling launches.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also offer valuable integration and deployment services that enable our customers to reach space in a cost-effective manner and get to their desired orbit successfully. With this mission, Spaceflight is demonstrating that the Moon is in reach.\u201d<\/p>\n The launch date has moved slightly from its original target to February 21 (20:45 Eastern) \u2013 per the latest update on the Eastern Range.<\/p>\nSee Also<\/h4>\n
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