New SpaceX Falcon 9 Mission Launches Today

SpaceX has another launch today. SpaceX’s customer for this mission is Thales Alenia Space.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will deliver the TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSat satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit for European Space company Thales Alenia Space.

The Thales launch window is targeted to open at approximately 6:14pm EDT on Monday, April 27, 2015, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. If all goes as planned, the satellite will be deployed approximately 32 minutes after liftoff.

The new SpaceX mission will launch TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSat, a communications satellite built on a Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 C2 platform and weighing 4,500 kg at launch.

The satellite’s design life exceeds 15 years, and its coverage zone encompasses Europe, Central Asia (up to the Chinese border), and virtually all of Africa. Once operational in orbit, TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSAT will allow Turkmenistan to operate its first national satellite telecommunications system, ensuring enhanced, secure telecommunications for the country. The Turkmenistan Ministry of Communications will use Monaco’s 52°E orbital position, via the Monaco-based satellite operator, Space Systems International – Monaco (SSI-Monaco).

SpaceX will offer a live webcast of the launch here.

Rocket moving to the pad tonight in advance of tomorrow’s launch attempt. 6:14pm ET window opens. Weather 60% go. pic.twitter.com/6k28TJz7Gl— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 27, 2015

About Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%), is a key European player in space telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, exploration and orbital infrastructures. Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio form the two parent companies’ “Space Alliance”, which offers a complete range of services and solutions. Because of its unrivaled expertise in dual (civil/military) missions, constellations, flexible payloads, altimetry, meteorology and high-resolution optical and radar instruments, Thales Alenia Space is the natural partner to countries that want to expand their space program. The company posted consolidated revenues in excess of 2 billion euros in 2013, and has 7,500 employees in six countries.

SpaceX just made headlines the other week with the launch of Dragon to the ISS.