Arabsat 6A to launch April 7
March 19, 2019
By Chris Forrester
Reports from Florida’s Space Coast suggest that SpaceX’s next commercial flight launch will be Arabsat’s latest craft to join its fleet, 6A, will lift off at 6.36 pm (Florida time) on April 7th subject to the usual weather conditions and final readiness checks.
Arabsat 6A had been initially expected to launch during Q4 2018. SpaceX has yet to carry out a pre-launch static engine firing test which usually takes place a week or so ahead of a planned launch.
SpaceX will use its massive Falcon Heavy rocket and the first flight of the ‘Heavy’ variant since its maiden flight more than a year ago in February 2018. The Falcon Heavy comprises three sets of ‘ordinary’ Falcon rocket clusters. Each of these contain 9 engines, so the Heavy has 27 rocket engines for power.
Arabsat 6A was built by Lockheed Martin with Lockheed VP Lisa Callahan saying that the satellite was the most advanced communications satellite it had ever built. Arabsat 6A will go to 30.5 degrees East and serving the complete MENA region plus (potentially) the whole of Africa, Europe, Turkey and the near East. Its Western beam will also reach the Eastern seaboard of the US and South America.
Following Arabsat 6A will be Amos 17 for Israel’s Spacecom in late May.