Elon Musk-led SpaceX is all set for the resumption of rocket flight services on Jan. 14, Saturday, with the launch of a bunch of Iridium satellites.
Iridium is a top company in mobile voice and data satellite communications.
Accordingly, the Falcon 9 rocket will launch 10 satellites of Iridium to low-Earth orbit with the lift off time set for 12:54 p.m. EST at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
After the Sept. 1 explosion of SpaceX rocket, the company has suspended flights and was waiting for the probe to get over and obtain fresh clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration for resuming the flights. The FAA gave the license for the "Return to Flight" of the Falcon 9 mission on Jan. 6.
"The FAA accepted the investigation report on the AMOS-6 mishap and has closed the investigation," FAA spokesman Hank Price confirmed.
Launch Plan
According to the time schedule, the launch of Iridium-1 will take place from Space Launch Complex 4E at California's Vandenberg Air Force. The launch windows will open at 9:54:39 a.m. PST or 5:54:39 p.m. UTC on Jan. 14.
The 10 satellites are part of the estimated 70 Iridium satellites being launched for Iridium's next-generation global satellite constellation, named as Iridium NEXT.
According to reports, the deployment of satellites may begin an hour after the launch.
Watch The Launch
The commentary of the launch can be had from the company's live broadcast that will begin at 12:34 p.m. Eastern, 20 minutes prior to the launch window's opening at 12:54 p.m.
The SpaceX webcast will allow the live watching of the launch at https://www.spacex.com/webcast. Weather is expected to be favorable as experts have forecast a 60 percent chance of better weather during the launch. In the case of any delay or hiccup, Sunday, Jan. 15 will be a back-up.
SpaceX Confident
Meanwhile, SpaceX exuded confidence that a perfect launch will follow.
"This will be a tough flight for us coming back after our event on September 1st," said Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX president and COO.
"Every launch is a nerve-racking, emotional, significant emotional event ... A million things have to go right in order to have a successful launch, literally, and only one thing has to go wrong to have a really particularly bad day," Shotwell added.
Launch Readiness Review
Iridium Communications updated that the respective teams are in the homestretch with all readiness for the launch and precautions have been taken for a successful launch.
"There are so many variables that need to be considered when finalizing launch preparations, and a slight deviation or unexpected behavior by any of them can jeopardize the launch integrity," noted Iridium COO Scott Smith.
The countdown dress rehearsal and Launch Readiness Review (LRR) for the liftoff are complete.
Prelaunch inspections as part of the countdown dress rehearsal and LRR include clearances for the Falcon 9 rocket, Iridium NEXT payload and the personnel manning the SpaceX and Iridium ground infrastructure.
High Stakes For SpaceX
The stakes are high for SpaceX. The challenge lies in restoring the confidence of the clientele after the September mishap that cast clouds on the Falcon 9. The launch on Saturday requires SpaceX to deploy 10 Iridium-NEXT satellites into orbit using a dispenser at the second stage of the rocket.
The Iridium-NEXT network is a 66-satellite constellation. The satellite network is also crucial to the future business of SpaceX on the internet satellite space.
