SpaceX is launching four “MicroGEO” satellites into orbit this evening

SpaceX plans to launch four small communications satellites into high Earth orbit from Florida’s Space Coast this evening (December 20).

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying four “MicroGEO” satellites from San Francisco-based Astranis is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space this evening during a nearly four-hour window that opens at 10:39 p.m. EDT (03:39 GMT on December). Force station take off. 21).

SpaceX will broadcast the action live via its X account approximately 15 minutes before launch.

So far, one Astranis satellite has reached orbit, which explains the name of today’s mission: “Astranis: From One to Many.”

Related: SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk’s private space company

Two of the four satellites launching tonight will be used by Colorado-based Anuvu to provide travelers with in-flight connectivity. Another device will broadcast its service to customers in the Philippines, and the fourth, called UtilitySat, is expected to serve a variety of customers throughout its lifespan, according to Astranis.

“This is a huge milestone for Astranis. We are moving from one to many satellites, and this is the first time anyone has launched four satellites simultaneously in this way,” Astranis CEO John Gedmark said in an emailed statement.

“These are our most advanced satellites to date, with a number of improvements that will result in increased capacity and affordability,” he added. “We couldn’t be more excited to provide our customers with dedicated broadband networks like they can’t get anywhere else.”

The Falcon 9 upper stage will place the four Astranis satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit about 35 minutes after launch if everything goes according to plan this evening.

The quartet will then head to geosynchronous orbit, a circular orbit 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth. At this altitude, the orbital speed corresponds to the rotation speed of the planet, allowing spacecraft to continuously “float” over the same part of the Earth.

The Falcon 9’s first stage, meanwhile, will return to Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff to land on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” According to a SpaceX mission description, it will be the 17th flight of this particular launch vehicle.

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SpaceX is launching four “MicroGEO” satellites into orbit this evening

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