Another launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle took place tonight, within the scope of sending the KoreaSat-6A telecommunications satellite into space. This mission is notable for repeating Elon Musk’s company’s record of reusing the first stages of carriers. A stage was used to launch the satellite, which had been launched into space 22 times before, and this flight was the 23rd.

The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket took place from the location of the eponymous cosmodrome. Kennedy in Florida at 12:25 local time (20:25 Kiev time). The current flight for the carrier’s first stage was the 23rd to match the target set by the other two Falcon 9 first stages.

The launch was successful, and the first stage returned to Earth eight minutes and twenty seconds after launch, making a soft landing on the grounds of the spaceport at Cape Canaveral. At the same time, the second stage of the rocket continued to move with the satellite into geostationary orbit, which the device should enter approximately 35 minutes after launch.

After completion of the deployment phase, the 3.9-ton KoreaSat-6A satellite will be in an orbit at an altitude of 35,786 km above the Earth’s surface. At this altitude, the orbital speed corresponds to the planet’s rotation rate, allowing the satellite to “levitate” over the same area of ​​the Earth. Therefore, geostationary orbit is a popular location for espionage and weather satellites, as well as communications devices, to which KoreaSat-6A belongs.

“KoreaSat-6A will replace the existing KoreaSat-6 satellite and provide both geostationary satellite (FSS) and broadcast satellite (BSS) services to South Korea. Built on Thales Alenia Space’s proven Spacebus 4000B2 platform, KoreaSat-6A will provide South Korea It is equipped with six BSS transponders and twenty FSS transponders to cover the entire Korean territory.– In the statement made by Thales Alenia Space, the manufacturer of the new satellite, it was said as follows. He added that KT SAT Corporation will operate the device and its useful life will be 15 years.