SpaceX Launches Thuraya-4 On Falcon 9

January 4, 2025No Comments
FMN's Ed Cordero caught the flight of Thuraya-4 near Orlando International Airport Friday night. A landing airplane added to the photo as it approached MCO's runway.
FMN’s Ed Cordero caught the flight of Thuraya-4 near Orlando International Airport Friday night. A landing airplane added to the photo as it approached MCO’s runway.
Photo: Ed Cordero, FMN

SpaceX launched the Thuraya-4 satellite for Yahsat / Space 42 this evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 8:27 PM EST (0027 UTC) on a cool evening on the Space Coast.

Tonight’s launch was the first from the Eastern Range in 2025 in what is expected to be another record year for launches from the combined facilities of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center.

Around 8.25 minutes after lifting off, Booster B1073 completed its 20th mission when it touched down on ASDS ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’, which was stationed offshore downrange. ASOG and B1073 will now return to Port Canaveral for offloading and preparation for B1073’s next flight.

The second stage and payload achieved its initial orbit at about eight minutes into the flight, and that orbit was rounded about twenty-eight minutes later, with a successful payload deployment shortly after the 35th minute of the mission. That marked a successful end to the mission and a successful start in 2025 for SpaceX and for the Eastern Range.

Payload

Thuraya 4-NGS is a communication satellite built by Airbus UAE-based Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (Yahsat). It is built on the all-electric Airbus Eurostar-Neo Platform and will incorporate a large 12-meter L-band antenna and a payload capable of processing providing 3200 channels over a large number of spot beams.

Thuraya is the mobile satellite services subsidiary of the UAE-based Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (Yahsat), a public company and subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company. Established in 1997, Thuraya is the UAE’s first home-grown satellite operator.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

SpaceX is planning to launch Starlink 6-71 from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center NET Monday, January 6, 2025. The launch window opens at 11:44 AM EST (1644 UTC) and closes at 4:15 PM (2115 UTC) the same day.

  • Date: NET January 6, 2025
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Starlink 6-71
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Launch Window: 11:43 AM – 4:15 PM EST
  • Payload: Starlink satellites for SpaceX’s ISP constellation.
A relatively large crowd of people lined the banks of the Indian River in Titusville to watch the launch of Thuraya-4 on Friday night.
A relatively large crowd of people lined the banks of the Indian River in Titusville to watch the launch of Thuraya-4 on Friday night.
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

Author

  • I'm a NASA kid originally from Cocoa Beach, FL, born of Project Apollo. My family worked for NASA and/or their contractors, and I watched it all as a kid. And what kid doesn't like rockets? Currently, I am an IT engineer, a recovered R&D scientist that spent time in laser metrology, fiber optic applications and also lightning protection. I'm also a photographer, a writer and a bad musician. My favorite things are space, boating, sports, music and traveling. You can find me on Twitter as @TheOldManPar.

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Last updated on January 6, 2025

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