SpaceX is preparing to launch an Indonesian communications satellite after adverse weather conditions canceled the maiden flight on Tuesday evening.
The new launch window is 8:01 p.m. to 9:57 p.m. ET for the launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after poor weather Monday evening prevented the liftoff.
The forecast for Tuesday evening gives a 15% favorable chance during the window, increasing to 30% by the end of the window.
“Deep atmospheric moisture will persist across Florida through early to mid-week,” meteorologists responsible for the launch reported. “This, combined with a stalled front in the north [of Florida] and periods of upper-air instability, will maintain an elevated probability of showers and storms during the primary and backup launch periods. Wind gusts of 28-37 mph (45-60 km/h) are possible in the area of the stronger storms.”
If launched, the Nusantara Lima spacecraft, also known as N5, will place its communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit, with the first stage booster expected to land on board the unmanned spacecraft 8.5 minutes after launch.
The spacecraft belongs to a subsidiary of Indonesia's first private satellite company, Pasif Satelit Nusantara.
The satellite is designed to deliver 160 Gbps throughput with 101 Ka-band spot beams and has a service life of over 15 years.
“Boeing's satellite business has a rich history of serving Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region, beginning with the launch of Palapa A1 in 1976,” said Ryan Reed, president of Boeing Satellite Systems International. “With Nusantara Lima, we are proud to continue that legacy by offering a reliable and high-performance solution tailored to Indonesia's unique geographic conditions and communications needs. PSN has been an outstanding partner throughout this program.”
Sourse: www.upi.com
