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SpaceX performed its second mission of the weekend, launching its Falcon 9 rocket for Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM).
At 7 pm PT at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster launched and landed for the 22nd time, matching the existing record set by B1062.
On this occasion, B1016 of the SpaceX fleet deployed, propelling the ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 satellites for military communications and commercial broadband coverage in the northern polar vicinity.
Less than 10 minutes after liftoff, Falcon 9 successfully docked on the ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ droneship in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX broadcasted the live launch on X, with both interests, the majority of which are controlled by Elon Musk.
Liftoff of ASBM! pic.twitter.com/S3vPmJqeUt
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 12, 2024
US Collaboration with Norway
The mission is a collaboration between the US Space Force, aerospace and defense heavyweight Northrup Grumman, and Space Norway, an entity of the Nordic nation’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries.
Northrop Grumman’s GEOStar-3 satellite bus built the ASBM satellites, weighing around two tonnes (approx 4,000 pounds). The dimensions are 3x3x4 meters (9.8×9.8×13.1 feet), with a total wingspan of 27 meters (88.6 feet) with the solar panels extended.
The satellites will reach into an advanced elliptical orbit to provide service to the Arctic region beyond the capabilities of various other geostationary satellite systems. Space Norway has indicated that the highest working orbital altitude will be 43,500 km and 8,100 km at the lowest point, in what is known as the “Three Apogee Period.”
Ahead of the August 11 lunch in California, B1061’s previous mission was to launch a set of Starlink satellites back in June.
SpaceX’s ability to reuse and adapt its stage one booster means a faster turnaround, more launches, and reduced costs, creating more opportunities for the company and various external partnerships.
