SpaceX to launch 2 sharp-eyed Earth-imaging satellites into orbit on August 15
SpaceX launched two geo-imaging satellites today (Aug. 15), continuing the WorldView Legion constellation for Maxar.
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the WorldView Legion 3 and 4 satellites lifted off today at 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
As usual, the Falcon 9's first stage successfully landed eight minutes after liftoff, touching down near the launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The WorldView Legion constellation will eventually consist of six satellites. The first two have already gone up, with a Falcon 9 arriving in orbit last May.
Related: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 2 Maxer satellites on 20th flight (VIDEO)
« When all six WorldView Legion satellites are launched, it will triple the capacity of Maxor to collect 30-centimeter-class intelligence. [12 inches] and multispectral imagery, » Maxar representatives wrote Network description. (Maxar Intelligence is a division of Maxar Technologies.)
« The entire MAXER constellation of 10 electro-optical satellites will image the fastest-changing regions on Earth every 20 to 30 minutes from sunrise to sunset, » they added.
Today's launch continues a busy stretch for SpaceX: Elon Musk's company has launched three missions in the past five days, two of which are dedicated to building its ever-growing Starlink megaconstellation.
SpaceX has already launched nearly 80 missions by 2024, more than 70% of which will be Starlink flights.
