SpaceX to launch 2 World Cup Legion Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket from Kennedy Space Center – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX to launch 2 World Cup Legion Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket from Kennedy Space Center – Spaceflight Now
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands at the Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) prior to the launch of the Maxar 3 mission. Image: SpaceX

SpaceX is preparing to launch the latest pair of world -sighted relations satellites on behalf of Maxar Intelligence, a department of Maxar Technologies. The two satellites will be launched in a mid-clutter Earth Rail (MEO) after separation from the Falcon 9 rocket.

Lifting the mission, called Maxar 3 of SpaceX, from Launch Complex 39A at NASAS Kennedy Space Center is set to at 1 p.m. 18:13 EST (2313 UTC). If successful it will be SpaceX’s second Falcon 9 launch of the day.

Spaceflight now has live covering that begins about an hour before lifting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bty4gsdw-ps

SpaceX uses Falcon 9 First Stage Booster 1086 to launch this mission. It will be its fourth flight after previous launch as a side amplifier at Gos-U Falcon Heavy Mission and then as a Falcon 9 booster on two Starlink missions.

Less than eight minutes after Liftoff, B1086 will target a touchdown towards landing zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. If successful it will be the 48th booster landing at LZ-1 and the 405. Booster landing to date.

The first worldview Legion satellite (fifth total) will be inserted after the end of the second combustion of Falcon 9 top steps approx. 47 minutes after Liftoff. There will be two more burns by Merlin Vacuum Engine before the second satellite is inserted about an hour and 50 minutes into the flight.

Mission Patch for the launch of Maxar Intelligence’s Third Pair of WorldView Legion Satellites. Graphics: Maxar Technologies

More eyes in the sky

The two WorldView Legion Satellites were made by Maxar Space Systems, another section of Maxar Technologies. The company announced their arriving in Florida in early January to begin the final treatment before launching.

The two satellites were sent from Maxar Space Systems’ factory in Palo Alto, California. When they are on circulation, they end the company’s first block of satellites.

The third set of WorldView Legion Satellites is seen here at Maxar Space Systems’ factory in Palo Alto, California. Image Credit: Maxar Space Systems. Image: Maxar Technologies

The Twin space vessel is designed to increase the company’s 30 cm-class satellite images capacity. There are currently four WorldView Legion satellites operating in MEO and six other satellites in a sun-synchronous course.

”With 3.6 million square kilometers. Of 30 cm-class collection capacity per Today, Maxar will continue to lead the industry by offering customers the highest image quality and geometric accuracy available in the commercial market, ”Maxar Intelligence said in a statement. “In fact, no other provider will have this amount of 30 cm-class capacity available.”

Maxar makes his images available via either a Maxar Geospatial Platform (MGP) Pro subscription to access individual images or through his lively advanced Baseman for “a seamless overview of the Earth.”