Launch Date: April 27
Launch Window: 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC)
Launch site: SLC-39A, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida
Core Booster Recovery: Expended
Booster: B1060.20
Fairings: Reused
Mass: 1603 kg
Orbit: MEO
Yearly Launch Number: 43
Pair of satellites for Europe's MEO Galileo constellation. Originally planned to launch on Soyuz ST, but scrapped due to geopolitical factors. Then moved to Ariane 6, which was also scrapped due to delays. Europe contracted SpaceX to launch the two pairs aboard Falcon 9 for approximately €180 million ($192 million).
B1060.20 will be expended due the extra boost needed for the satellites to get to MEO. The last time a single Falcon 9 first stage was expended dates further back to late November 2022 when B1049 was expended on the Eutelsat 10B mission. Booster B1051, which coincidentally launched Galaxy 31 & 32, was also expended just 11 days prior and had continually set milestones as the first booster to be recovered eight, nine, ten, 11, and 12 times.
Launch Window: 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC)
Launch site: SLC-39A, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida
Core Booster Recovery: Expended
Booster: B1060.20
Fairings: Reused
Mass: 1603 kg
Orbit: MEO
Yearly Launch Number: 43
Pair of satellites for Europe's MEO Galileo constellation. Originally planned to launch on Soyuz ST, but scrapped due to geopolitical factors. Then moved to Ariane 6, which was also scrapped due to delays. Europe contracted SpaceX to launch the two pairs aboard Falcon 9 for approximately €180 million ($192 million).
B1060.20 will be expended due the extra boost needed for the satellites to get to MEO. The last time a single Falcon 9 first stage was expended dates further back to late November 2022 when B1049 was expended on the Eutelsat 10B mission. Booster B1051, which coincidentally launched Galaxy 31 & 32, was also expended just 11 days prior and had continually set milestones as the first booster to be recovered eight, nine, ten, 11, and 12 times.
