Watch the latest launch of SpaceX and the 2020 live broadcast [webcast]

Now, despite launching NRO’s first live broadcast contract with NRL-108 SpaceX and launching its first flight on any kind of flight-proof Falcon 9 rocket, let’s drop the four-flight booster destined for its support, the spy agency said. SpaceX clearly believes equally. The Falcon 9B1059, a new upper stage and payload fairing, and the unnecessary NRL-108 payload went vertical at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex 39A on October 16 – too late to investigate any WDR or static fire. . Attempt early December 17th.

Mission SpaceX will be the 26th and final opening of 2020 and with one big surprise – Last Rabbit of the Year As always, SpaceX will broadcast the launch live, starting about 15 minutes before the lift off (8:45 a.m. EST / UTC-5).

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) says SpaceX is on track to launch its last Falcon 9 and attempt a year of landing after a nearly two-month delay.

Originally scheduled to launch in early October, the secret Rabbit spy agency’s NRL-108 launch plans were quietly revealed to the FCC in routine communication permission requests filed by SpaceX. Unfortunately, those plans came at a time when the Falcon 9’s booster engine issue ended SpaceX’s launch at the last second and forced the company to investigate a rapid but widespread breakdown. As it turns out, the Falcon 9 booster given to support NRL-108 (B1059) was practically a sibling with three new boosters affected by the investigation.

SpaceX may have had to replace some of the nine Marlin 1D engines on the B1059, although much less the result is that the B1059 successfully completed four launches and landings. Finally, although nothing is known for sure, payload side issues with the NRL-108 satellite are the most likely cause of an eight-week delay. Now, confirmed by the NRO on December 14, SpaceX is set to launch its second mission for the spy agency from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST (14: 00-17: 00 UTC) on Thursday, December 17.

For SpaceX, this will be the third time in a month that a customer has effectively impacted several Falcon 9 booster reuse milestones, once again showing great confidence in the company’s expertise with the flight-proof rocket. On December 6, Falcon 9’s Booster B1058 landed for the fourth time in support of NASA’s resumption of SpaceX’s CRS-21 space station mission, and twice launched the space agency. Or Triple flying booster.

On December 13, carrying a large communications satellite for the Sirius XM, another Falcon 9 booster landed for the seventh time, becoming the first personal customer to launch on a five-flight or six-flight SpaceX rocket.

A few days after the SXM-7, SpaceX is about to launch the mysterious NRL-108 mission. This will be the first time NRO has launched a pay-per-view commercial rocket of any kind, as well as its first flight on a two-flight, three-flight, or four-flight booster – all so far Is greater than numeric. A SpaceX customer has never taken. NRO’s first and only SpaceX launch – technically contracted by spacecraft provider Bell Aerospace, not NRO itself – was completed in May 2017.

Despite being less important, the NRL-108 SpaceX will launch on the first U.S. government four-flight Falcon 9 booster, another indication that even many of its conservative clients are fully aware of the cost and technology of reusable rockets. Practicality is purchased.