SpaceX launches Malaysian satellite
Posted: Tue, Jul 14, 2009, 6:37 AM ET (1037 GMT)
A Falcon 1 rocket successfully launched a Malaysian remote sensing satellite late Monday. The Falcon 1 lifted off from Omelek Island on Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific at 11:35 pm EDT Monday (0335 GMT Tuesday) and placed the RazakSAT spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The launch was the second successful one in a row for the Falcon 1, after the first three launches failed to place their payloads in orbit, and the first to put a functional satellite rather than a dummy payload into orbit. The 180-kilogram satellite, built by Malaysian company Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. for the Malaysian government, carries a high-resolution camera, will operate from a near-Equatorial orbit. The launch was delayed by about four and a half hours because of a problem with a helium pressurization system as well as weather. SpaceX plans to make the first launch of its more powerful Falcon 9 launch vehicle later this year.
A Falcon 1 rocket successfully launched a Malaysian remote sensing satellite late Monday. The Falcon 1 lifted off from Omelek Island on Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific at 11:35 pm EDT Monday (0335 GMT Tuesday) and placed the RazakSAT spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The launch was the second successful one in a row for the Falcon 1, after the first three launches failed to place their payloads in orbit, and the first to put a functional satellite rather than a dummy payload into orbit. The 180-kilogram satellite, built by Malaysian company Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. for the Malaysian government, carries a high-resolution camera, will operate from a near-Equatorial orbit. The launch was delayed by about four and a half hours because of a problem with a helium pressurization system as well as weather. SpaceX plans to make the first launch of its more powerful Falcon 9 launch vehicle later this year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 12
Final ‘go’ for Vega launch
ESA — 10:27 am ET (1527 GMT) Our spaceship has arrived: Museum of Flight takes delivery of Soyuz capsule
GeekWire — 9:01 am ET (1401 GMT) Glenn reflects on his mission, future of space
Zanesville (OH) Times-Recorder — 8:59 am ET (1359 GMT) A lawyer's idea of marketing
Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News — 8:59 am ET (1359 GMT) 'Hang me for so-called omission... but let them go through democratic process'
Indian Express — 8:57 am ET (1357 GMT) |