Monday, March 30, 2009

SpaceX Preps Satellite Launch

Hawthorne-based SpaceX, the rocket technology firm headed by Paypal founder Elon Musk, reported Monday that it is prepping a launch of a Malaysian satellite built by Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB) next month. SpaceX said that the launch will use its Falcon 1 rocket, and that its launch window is currently scheduled to open on Monday, April 20th at 4pm. According to SpaceX, ATSB's RazakSAT satellite is intended to provide high resolution images of Malaysia for land management, conservation, and other uses. The launch will be the first commercial launch of a payload on the firm's Falcon 1 rocket, which successfully reached orbit in September of last year after its fourth attempt.

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