Mon, Jun 01, 2009
Space Exploration Technologies
(SpaceX) and Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB) of Malaysia
have announced an updated launch window for Falcon 1 Flight 5,
carrying the RazakSAT satellite to orbit. The launch window opens
Monday, July 13th and extends through Tuesday, July 14th, with a
daily window to open at 1600 (PDT)/1900 (EDT).
The launch was delayed last month after SpaceX identified the
potential for an unfavorable interaction between the satellite and
the launch vehicle. After further analysis, SpaceX determined the
implementation of a simple vibration isolation system would address
this concern. SpaceX selected the SoftRide isolation system
from CSA Engineering for this purpose, citing the system's strong
flight heritage and established success in addressing vibration
concerns.
Falcon 1, a two-stage, liquid oxygen/rocket-grade kerosene vehicle
designed from the ground up by SpaceX, will place the RazakSAT
satellite, equipped with a high resolution Medium-Sized Aperture
Camera (MAC), into a near equatorial orbit.
RazakSAT was designed and built by ATSB, a pioneer and leader in
the design and manufacture of satellites in Malaysia. The satellite
is expected to provide high resolution images of Malaysia that can
be applied to land management, resource development and
conservation, forestry and fish migration.
SpaceX's Falcon 1 launch site is located approximately 2500
miles southwest of Hawaii on Omelek Island, part of the Reagan Test
Site (RTS) at United States Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) in the
Central Pacific. Due to the location of the launch site, the
Kwajalein local date at the opening of the launch window will be
Tuesday, July 14th.
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