Today, SpaceX will attempt 2 launches from two different locations. The first launch will take place from Vandenberg, California at 1:19 pm eastern time. This will be a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a South Korean satellite known as the 425 Project Flight 1. The next launch will take place from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and has a launch window from 11:00 pm till 3:00 am Saturday morning. This will be a Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink satellites Group 6-31.
425 Project
The 425 Project Flight 1 is a strategic endeavor undertaken by South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). It marks the first of a series of five launches aimed at deploying reconnaissance satellites into orbit. This project is key to enhancing South Korea’s satellite reconnaissance capabilities. The initial launch involves sending a reconnaissance satellite equipped with an electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) telescope into orbit. This satellite is specifically designed for Earth observation, utilizing advanced EO/IR technology to capture detailed imagery. Following this, there are plans to launch four additional satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology by 2025. These SAR satellites can provide high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions or time of day, significantly enhancing South Korea’s surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.