Friday, December 30, 2022

SpaceX Launches Israeli Spy Satellite EROS C-3

A Falcon 9 lifts off Dec. 30 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California carrying the EROS C3 imaging satellite on SpaceX's 61st and final launch of 2022. Credit: SpaceX webcast

Space.com: SpaceX launches Israeli reconnaissance satellite, lands rocket in final flight of 2022  

The launch and landing marked SpaceX's 61st flight in 2022. 

SpaceX rang out 2022 a few days early with a brilliant nighttime launch from California to haul an Israeli reconnaissance satellite into orbit.  

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Israeli Earth-imaging satellite EROS C-3 into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California late Thursday night (Dec. 29), releasing the payload into orbit about 15 minutes after leaving Earth. 

Liftoff occurred at 11:38 p.m. PST at the launch site (2:38 a.m. EST/0738 GMT), with the Falcon 9's first stage returning to land at a nearby SpaceX pad about 8 minutes into the flight.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Last SpaceX launch of 2022 carries Israeli reconnoissance satellite into orbit (UPI)  

Update #2: SpaceX Launches Israeli Earth-Imaging Satellite EROS C-3 Into Orbit (Algemeiner)  

WNU Editor: It has been a good year for SpaceX .... SpaceX completes record year with Israeli imaging satellite launch (Space News).

4 comments:

RussInSoCal said...

I was in Beullton last night - proximity to Solvang and Santa Ynez. Great restaurants and wineries. About 23 miles away and totally socked in with fog. Didn't see it but sure heard it!

Anonymous said...

Elon is an achiever

RussInSoCal said...

That was the 61st and last SpaceX launch of 2022. Their original stated goal was 50, which itself would be a record. 61. One every 6 days.

Dave Goldstein said...

The 5th and 6th sats that will be launched are rumored to be rorsats. ie xband