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SpaceX Go for Launch for Friday - Live Video

SpaceX

SpaceX is targeting an early afternoon liftoff on June 23rd 2017 at 3:10 EDT.

The launch window extends to 4:10 EDT and, in case of weather, range, pad or vehicle issues the launch can be moved to any time available in the window. The launch window is 2 hours long, so in case of an hold during the initial part of the window, there should be enough time to recycle the count.

BulgariaSat-1 will be the 4th GTO comsat launch of 2017 and 15th GTO comsat launch overall for SpaceX. BulgariaSat-1 is a commercial telecommunications satellite built by Space Systems Loral (SSL) for BulgariaSat, an affiliate of Bulsatcom. It has a mass of approximately 3669 kg and it will be delivered to GTO, but the Delta V to GEO (It can range from 1450 m/s to 1850 m/s usually) is currently unknown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8mLi-rRTh8

BulgariaSat-1 is a geostationary communications satellite intended to be located at the Bulgarian orbital position, which will provide direct-to-home television (DTH) and data communications services to South East Europe and other European regions. BulgariaSat-1 will provide reliable satellite communications solutions to broadcast, telecoms, corporate and government customers. It is the first geostationary communications satellite in the history of the country.

This mission will include a post-launch landing attempt of the first stage, and like all the previous GTO missions, there isn't enough fuel for a Boostback burn, so the landing will occur on the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS) named Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) currently positioned at 28° 13' 48" N 73° 40' 51" W, 679 km downrange. If successful, this will be the first rocket booster the have launched and landed on both the West and East Coasts.

The booster used on this mission is B1029.2, which was launched and recovered January this year. After touchdown the booster was secured on the Droneship deck and transported to the Los Angeles port, where it was lifted by a crane, had its landing legs removed and sent directly to Florida for its next flight. At this time we can expect a similar flow, but with some differences: after touchdown, this could be the first time the "Octagrabber" or "Roomba" robot could be used to secure the first stage, but we will most likely know only once the ASDS reaches Port Canaveral, where it will be moved back to land. It is unknown what the fate of this booster will be, but it is unlikely it will fly again due to the hot landing it will face and it being a block 3 or less core.

A transplant from Athens, Georgia, Robb manages WFIT's website and social media accounts and is the host of Left Of The Dial.