SpaceX Launches Maxar’s Worldview Legion Satellites from Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — SpaceX launched two of Maxar’s Worldview Legion imaging satellites Thursday morning.

The one-hour window opens at 9 a.m. ET when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket takes off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the company said. Launch predictions for the Maxar 2 mission look pretty good, with the 45th Aerospace Squadron giving an 80 percent chance of good launch conditions. The only major concern is the cumulus rule.

However, if the launch is canceled for some reason, the next attempt will be made on Friday, but with a three-hour launch time, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.

Impressive Mission History

This is the 16th mission of Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1076. Its 15 previous missions are impressive. The list includes missions such as CRS-26, Starlink missions, and more. After stage separation, B1076 landed at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, causing sonic booms that could be heard for miles.

About the Mission

Colorado-based Maxar is overseeing the Maxar 2 mission, which is part of a series of three missions to deploy six WorldView Legion satellites. This latest launch follows the successful deployment of the first two satellites in May from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The WorldView Legion satellites are designed to provide high-resolution imagery for mapping, monitoring, and analysis purposes. This constellation of satellites will significantly enhance Maxar’s imaging capabilities, allowing for more frequent and detailed monitoring of Earth’s changing landscapes.