A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, topped with the Crew Dragon capsule, is launched carrying four astronauts on the first operational NASA commercial crew mission at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. November 15, 2020. REUTERS/Joe Skipper
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - MAY 30: In this SpaceX handout image, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft launches on the Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard at Launch Complex 39A May 30, 2020, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The Demo-2 mission is the first launch of a manned SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. It was the first launch of an American crew from U.S. soil since the conclusion of the Space Shuttle program in 2011. SpaceX via Getty Images)
SpaceX would launch the first rocket this 2021 with Falcon 9 leading the charge to bring Turksat 5A to Earth's orbit, known as the next-generation broadcasting birds to patrol space, with Elon Musk leading the charge. 2021's first launch would take place on Cape Canaveral Space Force on Thursday night, January 7, and is set to push through without confirmation.
The popular public aerospace manufacturer, SpaceX, would mark another milestone for the company as 2021's "space opener" that would be the first of many launches the company would make this year. Whether it be for Starlink's internet satellites, NASA's contract-bound Commercial Crew Launches, or other companies' agreement, SpaceX is here to service them all.
SpaceX is becoming the top privately-owned company to launch for different agencies or corporations in the present, as it dominated 2020 with its Commercial Crew tie up with NASA. Moreover, Elon Musk popularized the use of SpaceX's reusable rockets which is in the form of the Crew Dragon, Cargo Dragon, and the Falcon 9 rocket launcher.
TITUSVILLE, FL - MAY 22: SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft atop rocket Falcon 9 lifts off from Pad 40 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Titusville, Florida. The launch this morning makes SpaceX the first commercial company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station. (Photo by Roberto Gonzalez/Getty Images)
SpaceX's First Launch in 2021: Falcon 9 Brings Turksat 5A
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, topped with the Crew Dragon capsule, is launched carrying four astronauts on the first operational NASA commercial crew mission at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. November 15, 2020. REUTERS/Joe Skipper
According to MSN, SpaceX will headline 2021's first launch with the Falcon 9 to launch a highly-technological and advanced "broadcasting bird" known as the Turksat 5A, which is a Turkish satellite for military purposes. The next-gen satellite would mark SpaceX and Falcon 9's fourth consecutive launch, retrieval, and relaunch of the same rocket.
Moreover, this time, Falcon 9 would be caught by Just Read The Instructions (JRTI) droneship which would be waiting for the rocket's return in the Atlantic Ocean this time. The past return of the same Falcon 9 was caught by its other drone ships deployed in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX has not yet confirmed if the mission is a go for Thursday night, but several indicators are signaling and confirming that it would still follow its schedule as airspaces are already closed at the rocket's launch time. Also, the weather for Thursday night indicates that it can push through as scheduled but a 24-hour back-up timeline is already in-place.
SpaceX Falcon 9 2021 Launch: Here's How to Watch
FILE PHOTO: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken lifts off during NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., May 30, 2020.REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
As per usual SpaceX launches, the company would set up a live stream to let the public in farther places to witness and experience the Falcon 9's flight virtually. The live stream could be viewed on their website and through their YouTube live launch show which we will soon embed below upon SpaceX confirmation.
The Falcon 9's launch window would begin from 5:28 pm PT (8:28 pm EST) which would have an estimate of four hours of allotment to blastoff. Launching at night is a sight to see as the rocket would be more distinguishable and noticeable as it lights up the skies with its powerful display of burning rocket fuel.
