SpaceX will get its third chance to launch the company's first major commercial satellite into space on Tuesday at 5:41 p.m. EST, Space.com reported. Previously scheduled missions from last week were both delayed by technical problems.
"All known rocket anomalies have been resolved," SpaceX officials wrote of today's status.
The commercial aeronautics company has assisted NASA and Canada's national space agency in launching satellites before, but this mission will be more or less SpaceX's own venture. From Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, an upgraded version of its Falcon 9 rocket will propel the "huge" SES-8 communications satellite into orbit, according to Space.com. Falcon 9 must fire within a 66 minute window or its launch will be delayed until Wednesday. Beyond that, SpaceX doesn't have any further reported back up days.
"The entry of SpaceX into the commercial market is a game-changer," SES chief technology officer Martin Halliwell said before SpaceX's first launch attempt on Nov. 24. "It's going to really shake the industry to its roots."
Once in orbit, the SES-8 satellite is designed to provide telecommunication services to clients from South Asia and throughout the Pacific, according to space.com. SpaceX needs today's launch to run smoothly.
The Falcon 9 rocket has undergone several major upgrades since its development in 2010. All were tested successfully in a test flight for the Canadian Space Agency in September except for its ability to restart once in orbit. That error was corrected, according to SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, and will be necessary to the function of today's satellite launch, according to Space.com.
Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, partly to bring space travel to the general population. His company advertises its Falcon 9 rockets for $56.7 million.
Space.com will be broadcasting the launch live here at 5:22 p.m. EST.
