SpaceX Will Launch TV Broadcast Satellite EchoStar 23 On Tuesday; Midnight Launch Planned

The SpaceX is planning to launch the TV broadcast satellite EchoStar 23 on March 14, and it conducted a Falcon 9 flight test on last Thursday before launching the heavy satellite. The launch pad of the satellite is 39A at Kennedy Space Center located in Cape Canaveral. The launch is scheduled at 1:34 a.m. EST, and it is expected to close by 4:04 a.m. EST.

Due to the heavy payload, the first stage of Falcon 9 rocket will not be recovered according to the reports. Considering that the payload mass is almost 5500kg, the rocket needs more fuel to finish the mission and take the satellite to orbit. It was confirmed by the CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk, that the satellite won't try to land the booster of the rocket considering the weight of the satellite. It should be noted that the last eight missions of Falcon 9 saw the first stage returning to landing pad after the mission.

EchoStar is a Colorado-based satellite service and video content provider that has services across the continents. The Echostar 23 is designed to provide TV broadcasting services across Brazil for a minimum of 15 years. Interestingly, the Kennedy Space Center usually allows the public to view the launch in its visitor complex, but this time the center is not expected allow the visitors near the premises because the launch is scheduled at midnight.

This is the third launch of SpaceX during the year, and the second time the firm is utilizing the 39A launch pad. The launch of EchoStar 23 was originally scheduled last year, but because of the explosion of the Falcon 9 rocket in launch pad last September, it was moved to January. Again it was rescheduled in February, and now the firm is planning to launch it by this week. The Sept. 1 explosion had severely damaged the other launch pad, and the firm is looking to repair it at the earliest.