Brevard County’s launch pads will keep busy in February, with SpaceX launching the most rockets this month.
A notable launch — pushed from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7 due to weather conditions — carries a $900 million NASA observatory satellite known as PACE (plankton, aerosol, cloud, ocean ecosystem) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The plan is for the satellite to gather data by scanning the whole earth every two days. The project aims to improve decision-making that impacts Earth’s environment.
These are the upcoming launches you can expect — and their payloads.
Feb. 10: Starlink constellation expanding further
SpaceX has as many as five February launches in the works to expand Starlink, a broadband services company that SpaceX owns and operates. The Starlink constellation of about 5,300 satellites could grow by another 110 satellites in the coming weeks if five launches deploying 23 satellites each are successful. The only Starlink-related launch with a definite date is scheduled for Feb. 10.
SpaceX has beefed up its number of Starlink launches each year since the endeavor began in 2019 so it can reach its goal of a 12,000-satellite constellation providing global internet and cell service.
Feb. 14: Lunar lander to be first American spacecraft to land on moon in 50 years
Getting an American spacecraft to land on the moon didn’t happen in January, when Peregrine, the lunar lander made by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, failed to reach its destination. Houston-based Intuitive Machines will take its shot on Valentine’s Day when its Nova-C lander launches aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
This mission is part of a NASA program that supports commercial payload services for companies enabling future commercial development of the moon. NASA laid out the near-term scope of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services in a press kit. Nova-C's Feb. 14 payload includes machines that gather data and insights about parts of the moon where future crewed missions will go.
If the Nova-C mission is successful, the lunar lander will be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon in 50 years.
Feb. 20: Indonesian satellite to improve broadband to launch via Falcon 9
Telekom Indonesia announced in 2021 it would make Indonesia independent from foreign broadband providers by putting HTS-113BT — a high throughput telecommunications satellite — in orbit. The satellite will launch on Feb. 20 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Feb. 22: Crewed mission taking flight to International Space Station
Four astronauts — three Americans and a Russian — will head to space on Feb. 22. Dubbed the Crew-8, this mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Crew-8 marks the ninth human spaceflight mission supported by a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the eighth crew rotation mission to International Space Station.
Commander Matthew Dominick, pilot Michael Barratt, mission specialist Jeanette Epps and mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin will spend about six months on the ISS, doing research and operational tasks.
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