SpaceX successfully launches the Italian Earth-Observation Satellite Cosmo SkyMed.
HIGHLIGHTS
The satellite was launched by SpaceX on a Falcon 9 rocket.
SpaceX posted a video on Twitter confirming the satellite's launch.
Due to severe weather, the launch was postponed for many days.
WHY IN NEWS
After repeated delays, SpaceX has successfully launched an Italian satellite from a Florida launch site atop its Falcon 9 rocket. The billionaire computer entrepreneur Elon Musk's space business had intended to launch the Earth-observation satellite last week, but inclement weather caused them to delay the launch numerous times. On Sunday, a window of opportunity arose, but a cruise liner travelled into restricted seas off the coast of Florida and was unable to exit the 'no-go zone' in time for the launch. At 6:11 a.m. EST Monday, the Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation FM2 (CSG-2) satellite launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (4:41am Tuesday IST).
also read : https://tinyurl.com/54v76x44
CSG is an Italian government system that consists of two satellites that use synthetic aperture radar to study the Earth. The first (CSG-1) was launched in December 2019 from French Guiana on a Soyuz rocket and is now in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 620 kilometres. CSG-2 will be in the same orbit as CSG-1. The system is designed to replace the previous Cosmo-SkyMed system, which was introduced between 2007 and 2010. About 60 minutes after launch, SpaceX released a video verifying the deployment of the 2,200kg satellite made by Thales Alenia Space into orbit.
also read : https://tinyurl.com/5f66bcuc
During this launch, everything went according to plan for SpaceX. Just under eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage returned for a smooth touchdown at the pre-designated landing spot. This first-stage booster recovery is critical to SpaceX's long-term aspirations of reaching Mars and making space travel affordable and viable. In the year 2022, SpaceX has set a lofty goal of 52 launches. However, the delays throw a pall over the project's goal and refocus attention on the need for greater planning. If SpaceX meets its goal, it will be the most launches the firm has ever made in a single year. SpaceX conducted a total of 31 launches in 2021, which was a new high for the firm.
SPACEX TWEETS ON SATELLITE LAUNCH :
1) https://tinyurl.com/mv395arx
