SpaceX launched a mystery satellite to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) from Florida’s Space Coast on July 13. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 1:04 a.m. EDT, carrying out the Commercial GTO-1 mission. Although the company did not identify the payload, it is believed to be an Israeli communications satellite called Dror-1.
Dror-1 is a geostationary communication satellite developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It will meet Israel’s satellite communication needs for the next 15 years. The satellite features advanced digital communication technology and “smartphone in space” capabilities, providing agile communication throughout its lifetime.
The Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed on the SpaceX drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. This was the rocket’s 13th launch and landing for booster B1083, according to SpaceX. The deployment of the Commercial GTO-1 satellite is expected to be completed soon.
Note: Geostationary orbit is approximately 22,236 miles above Earth, where the orbital speed matches our planet’s rotational speed, allowing spacecraft to “hover” over a specific patch of Earth continuously.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-mystery-satellite-to-geostationary-transfer-orbit