SpaceX successfully launched the world’s heaviest commercial communications Satellite using its Falcon Heavy rocket. The launch took place from Kennedy Space Center’s pad 39A at 11:04 p.m. EDT on Friday. The Jupiter 3/EchoStar 24 satellite, weighing 9 metric tons, was deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit approximately three and a half hours after liftoff.
The launch had experienced a scrub on Wednesday and a delay of 48 hours to replace a stuck liquid oxygen valve on the rocket’s port-side booster. However, the weather improved, and the rocket lifted off in calm conditions with just a thin layer of cloud in the sky.
This mission marked the seventh flight for Falcon Heavy and its third launch of the year. The rocket’s twin side boosters, which had flown on two previous missions, successfully returned to SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 & 2, making sonic booms upon their arrival.
The Jupiter 3/EchoStar 24 satellite, housed inside the rocket’s payload fairing, is the heaviest commercial communications satellite ever launched. It aims to expand the reach of HughesNet satellite internet service to almost 80% of the population throughout the Americas. The satellite features 300 spot beams for targeted coverage and has a capacity of 500 Gbps.
After deployment, the satellite will undergo orbit raising and testing to reach its orbital slot of 95 degrees West longitude. It will replace EchoStar’s Spaceway 3 satellite, which was launched in 2007. The Falcon Heavy was chosen for this mission due to its heavy lift capability.
Launching the satellite into geostationary orbit enables broader coverage with fewer satellites. The improved broadband connectivity provided by Jupiter 3 will benefit individuals in rural areas and support cellular backhaul for mobile network operators. It will also be used for aeronautical connectivity, providing high-speed WiFi for airplanes flying across North and South America.
Service using the Jupiter 3 satellite is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2023, offering enhanced connectivity and internet coverage for a wide range of users.
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