SAOCOM 1A
Falcon 9 Block 5
SpaceX
Mission
SAOCOM 1A
- Type: Communications
- Orbit: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
- Launch Cost: $52,000,000
The SAOCOM 1A spacecraft is the first of the two SAOCOM constellation satellites. It is tasked with hydrology and land observaion, and will also operate jointly with the Italian COSMO-SkyMed constellation in X-band to provide frequent information relevant for emergency management.
Location
Rocket
Landing
Core B1048
Booster B1048 last launched 03/18/2020 and has seen 4 successful launches and landings. Landing burn not performed after premature engine shutdown during ascent
Landing Zone 4 – LZ-4
LZ at Vandenberg
Return to Launch Site – RTLS
A return to launch site usually means that after stage separation the booster flips and does a burn back towards the launch site, landing near where it initially launched from.
Agency
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.