SpaceX successfully carries AsiaSat 6 satellite into orbit following launch delay

(A long-exposure shot of the launch – Photo Credit: SpaceX)

On September 7th, SpaceX successfully launched a new commercial telecommunications satellite in a spectacular night-time liftoff that signalled the end of a nearly two-week delay for the mission.

The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off at 5:00 a.m GMT (1 a.m EDT) from SpaceX’s Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, carrying the AsiaSat 6 satellite into orbit for Hong Kong-based commercial satellite firm AsiaSat.

(Photo Credit: SpaceX)

Around 180 seconds into flight, the first and second stages of the vehicle separated and shortly after, Falcon 9’s second-stage Merlin vacuum engine ignited to begin a 6-minute burn to bring the satellite to a parking orbit.

The payload fairing deployed soon after the start of this burn and approximately 32 minutes after launch, AsiaSat 6 deployed successfully into a 185 x 35786 km geosynchronous transfer orbit. AsiaSat established contact with the satellite shortly thereafter.

(Photo Credit: SpaceX)

Falcon 9 met 100% of its mission objectives, marking the twelfth successful flight in a row for Falcon 9, and the second of two successful missions for AsiaSat this summer.

AsiaSat 6’s launch was originally scheduled for August 26th, but SpaceX delayed it in order to perform a thorough check of their systems. Although there was no issue with their Falcon 9 launch vehicle, the private spaceflight company were being overly cautious following the self-destruction of a rocket prototype in August.

You can watch a video of the launch below:

[Video Credit: SpaceX]