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SpaceXFalcon 9 Block 5Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

SAOCOM 1A

Launched

October 8, 2018 · 02:21 UTC

Launch Successful
SAOCOM 1A Patch

Image: SpaceX

Summary

SAOCOM 1A launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on October 8, 2018 at 02:21 UTC. It was SpaceX's 69th launch, 17th this year and humanity's 5,782nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 6th Falcon 9 Block 5 flight. Booster B1048 flew for the 2nd time and landed at Landing Zone 4. The payload was bound for Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). It reached a 614 × 641 km orbit inclined 97.9°. One object from this launch is catalogued.

Watch
Vehicle
Falcon 9 Block 5 · SpaceX
Booster
  • B1048 · flight 2 · Return to Launch Site at Landing Zone 4 · landed35/35 landed here · 74 days after its previous flight, Iridium-7
Mission
Communications · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
Milestone
6th Falcon 9 Block 5 flightSpaceX's 69th launch17th this yearhumanity's 5,782nd orbital launch attempt76th orbital launch attempt this year

Webcast

Replay
Watch on YouTube

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

97.9°Inclination
614 × 641 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
97.1 minPeriodfrom mean elements
106.0°Ascending node
2930 d agoElement epoch2018-10-08 04:06 UTC · stale

SAOCOM 1A · NORAD 43641 · 2018-076 · Space-Track

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
2018-076A
Epoch
2018-10-08 04:06:00 UTC
Mean motion
14.82786712 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0018839
Inclination
97.8996°
Ascending node
106.0457°
Arg. of perigee
244.3969°
Mean anomaly
261.797°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
0
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: SSO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile. Booster return drawn from padside's representative arc.

Catalogued objects

1 catalogued: 1 payload; 1 still in orbit

  • SAOCOM 1A · NORAD 43641 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

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.

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 4E

Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

80th launch from Space Launch Complex 4E, 5th this year · 682nd from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Local pad time at liftoff: Oct 7, 7:21 PM PDT, in twilight

303 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

74 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAOpen in maps

Questions

When did SAOCOM 1A launch?

SAOCOM 1A launched on October 8, 2018 at 02:21 UTC.

Where can I watch SAOCOM 1A?

Coverage: Falcon 9 launch and landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base; SAOCOM 1A Mission. Watch the replay

What rocket launched SAOCOM 1A?

Falcon 9 Block 5, flown by SpaceX. Falcon 9 Block 5 spec sheet

Where did SAOCOM 1A launch from?

Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. Liftoff was Oct 7, 7:21 PM PDT local time at the pad.

Did the booster land?

Booster B1048 flew for the 2nd time and landed at Landing Zone 4.

What orbit did SAOCOM 1A reach?

It reached a 614 × 641 km orbit inclined 97.9°.

How many satellites did SAOCOM 1A launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).