SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, December 5, carrying the SiriusXM SXM-9 satellite into orbit from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The mission, which marked the 87th orbital launch of 2024 from Cape Canaveral, aimed to provide geostationary communications services to customers.
The Falcon 9 booster successfully landed on the SpaceX drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean just hours after liftoff, marking the 100th time a first-stage booster has landed atop this vessel and SpaceX’s 380th overall successful booster recovery. The landing was completed eight minutes and 21 seconds after liftoff.
The SXM-9 satellite, manufactured by Maxar Technologies in California, features a large, mesh, unfurlable reflector nearly 10 meters in diameter to provide SiriusXM programming to radios, including those used in moving vehicles. With pristine launch weather conditions, the mission was deemed “go for launch” with over 95% probability.
SpaceX’s launch webcast and countdown clock were available on their website, providing real-time updates throughout the mission. The company’s team has been actively preparing for this launch, with Brevard County Emergency Management officials activating their launch operations support team ahead of the event.
The SiriusXM SXM-9 satellite is set to provide critical communications services, further expanding SpaceX’s growing network of satellites.
Source: https://eu.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2024/12/05/spacex-launch-day-heres-information-on-todays-siriusxm-sxm9-launch-from-cape-canaveral-florida/76760673007