It is almost all systems go for SpaceX's Falcon 9 and JCSAT-14 after the engine test results turned out really well.
SpaceX has already begun its countdown for the lift-off of Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Japanese satellite JCSAT-4 at 1:21 a.m. EDT (5:21 a.m. GMT) on May 5 at SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
"Static fire complete, teams reviewing data," tweeted SpaceX.
Currently, the Hawthorne-based company owned by Elon Musk has pegged the probability of launch at 80 percent owing to generally favorable weather conditions.
The satellite built by Space Systems/Loral in California is owned by Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation, a Japanese commercial telecom satellite operator with already more than 12 satellites in orbit. JCSAT-14, which can last for the next 15 years, is expected to replace JCSAT-2A, which has been in space since 2002.
JCSAT-14 is meant to significantly improve high-speed connectivity and telecommunications services not only in Asia but also in other nearby regions such as the Pacific and Oceania, as well as Russia, through its more than 40 transponders.
Bigger Impact for SpaceX
While the launch of the satellite will help improve connectivity in a large part of the world, it actually means so much more for SpaceX, which has recently won its first military contract.
The JCSAT-14 satellite launch will be its fourth for this year alone following the successful lift-offs of CRS-8 for NASA on April 8, SES-9 for SES on March 4, and Jason 3 for NASA on Jan. 17. After this launch, more than 20 are waiting in the pipeline including the debut of Falcon Heavy in November, which will be carrying an unknown payload.
It's been believed that the Japanese satellite should have been launched last year if it weren't for SpaceX's first launch failure, in which its subsequent investigation had pushed the timeline.
"Falcon 9 lifted off carrying Dragon and an International Docking Adapter for the ISS, but an overpressure event caused the rocket to disintegrate moments before stage separation, marking Falcon 9's first launch failure ever and SpaceX's first since Falcon 1 Flight 3," noted SpaceX.
Many are also anticipating on the outcome of what could be a very difficult landing for the rocket's first-leg booster in its autonomous drone ship called Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY). Since the satellite is intended for the geostationary orbit, the booster is expected to come down fast and hard.
