SpaceX readies overnight Falcon 9 to deploy Korea’s CAS500-2 alongside 44 payloads
TL;DR
SpaceX will launch 45 payloads on an overnight Falcon 9 rideshare from Vandenberg, headlined by Korea’s CAS500-2 Earth observation satellite, with 44 secondary satellites from multiple partners deployed into Sun-synchronous orbit. Booster B1071 is targeting a landing at LZ-4 after liftoff, marking another milestone for SpaceX’s reusable rocket program. The mission includes satellites from Exolaunch, Loft Orbital, IRIDE, True Anomaly, Planet Labs and others, illustrating growing international collaboration to increase on-orbit capacity.
- Live coverage: SpaceX to launch South Korean Earth observation satellite, plus 44 more payloads on overnight Falcon 9 rideshare mission Spaceflight Now
- SpaceX launching 45 satellites to orbit early May 3: Watch it live Space
- SpaceX targets late-night Saturday launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base; sonic boom expected KSBY News
- Sonic booms expected at rocket launch in Santa Barbara Los Angeles Times
- Korea's Cha Middle 2 Satellite Launches on SpaceX Falcon 9 조선일보
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