Three launch attempts later & four days after setting remote cameras out on launch complex SLC-40 all cameras have been retrieved showing a beautiful blue hour just after liftoff for SpaceX Intersat Galaxy 33 & 34 on October 8th 2022.
This successful mission for SpaceX marks their 46th launch year to date and the 14th flight for first stage booster B-1051-14 . Two identical IntelSat Galaxy C band satellites for video & television broadcast in the United States were successfully deployed in a geostationary orbit. Galaxy 33 will replace a older satellite in the IntelSat constellation and 34 will be a backup satellite which will occasionally be used for broadcasting some sports coverage from time to time. Both satellites were built by Northrop Grumman.
The first scrubbed launch attempt was an auto abort on Thursday 30 seconds before liftoff for a small hydrogen leak reported by Elon Musk. On Friday SpaceX canceled the launch about one hour before the attempt due to an issue with the fairing and to give the team extra time with system checks. On Saturday a successful attempt occurred at 7:05 PM EDT keeping SpaceX on track for their corporate goal of an incredible 52 launches in 2022!
Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team, SpaceX recovery fleet JRTI and their customer IntelSat who flew on a 14th flight first stage and very sooty booster.
Highlights & Photos by Scott Schilke for spacenews.lu and space-news.es
0 comments