SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches SpainSat NG I mission

On Wednesday, January 29, SpaceX launched a new Falcon 9 rocket with SpainSat NG I mission for Hisdesat in geosynchronous transfer orbit. The mission was clear for this liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpainSat Next Generation I (NG I) is a secure communication satellite developed by Spain’s Hisdesat in cooperation with the Spanish Ministry of Defense and collaboration with the Spanish Ministries of Industry and Tourism and Science, Innovation, and Universities.

Its development is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and aims to provide cost-effective and secure communication services for governments and emergency responders across, Europe, North, and South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

The satellite weighs 6.1 tonnes and expands to 7.2 meters tall. It features special equipment that protects it from interference attempts (anti-jamming) and spoofing.

Its antenna can be adjusted according to the coverage and user demand as well as environment conditions for higher flexibility and robust communication. These features are supported by an onboard digital processo that will interconnect military X and Ka-band payloads to allow band crossover. Also, its dedicated high-speed service link will provide rapid reconfiguration.

Initially, the satellite will undergo in-orbit acceptance tests before starting operations. The company has planned to keep the satellite operational for up to 15 years and provide services until 2037.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches SpainSat NG I satellite (Credit – SpaceX)

First stage and Deployment

Due to the additional performance requirements for this mission, the first stage completed its 21st and final liftoff and landing. That means the company has removed landing legs and grid fins from the Falcon 9 booster to reduce liftoff weight and the booster will not be recovered.

It previously supported:

• SES-22,
• ispace’s HKUTO-R MISSION 1,
• Amazonas-6,
• CRS-27,
• Bandwagon-1,
• GSAT-20,
• Thuraya-4,
• and 13 Starlink missions.

The company has deployed the SpainSat NG I at around 31 minutes and 30 seconds in the mission time.

(source)