Two communications satellites are today's payload for a SpaceX launch. (credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX has had a very nice run of success since April 8: it's launched three Falcon 9 rockets and landed all three of them on an autonomous drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Critically the last two of these rockets have delivered payloads to geostationary transfer orbit, more than 35,000km above the surface of the Earth. The higher energies required to reach this more challenging orbit has made the sea-based landings of the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage considerably more difficult.
On Wednesday the rocket company will go for a hat trick by landing its third rocket after a geostationary transfer orbit payload delivery. With a 45-minute launch window opening at 10:29am ET (3:29pm BST), the Falcon 9 rocket will attempt to send two commercial communications satellites into high orbit. The satellites, EUTELSAT 117 West B and ABS-2A, are operated respectively by Eutelsat and ABS.
"As with other GTO missions, the first-stage will be subject to extreme velocities and re-entry heating, making a successful landing difficult," SpaceX noted in a news release. The landing attempt will come about 8 to 10 minutes after launch.
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