Falcon 9 Full Thrust | PAZ & Microsat-2a, Microsat-2b
SpaceX · Falcon 9 Full Thrust · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
SpaceX's 56th launch · 4th this year · humanity's 5,726th orbital launch attempt
The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Window: Feb 22, 14:17 – Feb 22, 14:17 UTC
Flight preview
PAZ & Microsat-2a, Microsat-2b
PAZ is a military Earth radar observation satellite, designed and built by Airbus Defence and Space for Spain. The satellite is owned and operated by Hisdesat. The PAZ satellite is equipped with an advanced radar instrument designed for high flexibility, and the capability to operate in numerous modes allowing for the choice of several different image configurations. It will be able to generate images with up to 25 cm resolution. Designed for a mission of five and a half years, PAZ will orbit Earth 15 times per day, covering an area of over 300,000 square kilometres. On its slightly inclined quasi-polar orbit, PAZ will cover the entire globe in 24 hours, serving both government and commercial needs. Satellite is sharing the ride with two small SpaceX satellites. These will test the technologies for the planned satellite network called Starlink, which will consist of roughly 4000 satellites providing space-based Internet around the globe.
Government/Top Secret · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
Booster
- B1038 · flight 2 · expendable · last flew Falcon 9 Full Thrust | Formosat 5 · zone record 53/55
Watch
- SpaceX Falcon 9 PAZ launch from Vandenberg AFB — Vandenberg Space Force Base
- PAZ Mission — SpaceX
