Скачать или смотреть Falcon 9 Block 5 | Transport & Tracking Layer | Sep 2, 2023

SpaceX successfully launched a batch of 13 communications and missile tracking satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. This mission, known as Tranche 0 Flight 2, was conducted for the Space Development Agency (SDA). It marked SpaceX's 50th launch from Vandenberg, and it followed two previous scrubbed attempts due to issues with the rocket's engine and a ground valve problem.

The Falcon 9 booster used for this mission, B1063-13, had a history of successful launches, including missions such as Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium, OneWeb, and Starlink. After separating from the second stage, the booster was planned to return to Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, while the second stage would be deorbited south of South Africa.

The satellites were intended to be placed in an operational orbit near 1,000 km in altitude with an inclination of 81 degrees. The first Tranche 0 launch had placed its payloads into an initial orbit, with some satellites later raising themselves to a higher operational orbit.

This mission was part of the Tranche 0 phase, a demonstration phase of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), formerly known as the National Defense Space Architecture. SpaceX had been awarded a $150 million contract for two Falcon 9 flights for this phase, demonstrating their crucial role in supporting national defense and space capabilities.