SpaceX is conducting its second mission for China’s Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Sunday, with Falcon 9 deploying the AsiaSat6 satellite into a geosynchronous orbit. Liftoff is scheduled for 12:35 a.m. EST (04:35 UTC), from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
SpaceX designed the Falcon series of launch vehicles to be powered by rocket engines that burn liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants. The current Falcon 9 can lift payloads of 13,150 kilograms (28,990 lb) to low Earth orbit, and 4,850 kilograms (10,690 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit.
The Chinese geostationary communications satellite that Falcon 9 will be carrying, AsiaSat 6, will be operated by the Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company following its launch and will provide video broadcasts and data services to China and Southeast Asia for the next 15 years.
There's live stream of the launch event here:
