(Cape Canaveral Florida) SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying Intelsat’s Galaxy 37 communications satellite at 1:00 am EDT on August 3, 2023, after short delays due to weather in the area. Liftoff was scheduled initially for 12:15 am, but small rain showers on or near Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-40 violated launch criteria, leading to two changes in the planned T-0 time.
SpaceX delivered the satellite to a “supersynchronous” orbit approximately thirty-two minutes after liftoff — one where the highest point of the initial Earth orbits is higher than the planned operational orbit, which will appear to be stationary and off the northwestern coast of Seattle. Maxar reported later that “shortly after liftoff and separation, the satellite began receiving and sending signals and deployed its solar arrays.” It will take about three weeks for Galaxy 37 to achieve its final orbit using its onboard thrusters. After reaching its planned parking location above Earth, it will undergo testing and integration into Intelsat’s networks, with regular operations scheduled for early Q4 2023.
Galaxy 37 weighs approximately five metric tonnes and is outfitted with four deployable antenna reflectors, and once operational, it will provide service for C-band and Ku-band transmissions. Maxar constructed Galaxy 37, which is the final installment within a sequence aimed at rejuvenating Intelsat’s Galaxy satellite constellation, primarily operational over North America. Its primary role involves providing television and telecommunication services to private networks and serving the U.S. Government throughout North America. The Ku-band payload, designed for mobile communication services, is a collaborative effort between Intelsat and JSAT International.
This was the sixth flight of Booster 1077, which was recovered down-range aboard the drone ship “Just Read The Instructions.” After returning to Cape Canaveral from its location in the Atlantic Ocean, the booster will presumably be refurbished and used again on a future mission.SpaceX has had a busy year: it is the 52nd orbital launch for the company in 2023, averaging slightly more than 4.1 days between attempts. Save for its Starship test launch, so far in 2023, all of SpaceX’s attempts have resulted in mission success and safe recovery of the boosters used for them.
