In the dead of night on January 3, SpaceX sent its very first Falcon 9 rocket of the year soaring into space. The mission took flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with a target of delivering the Thuraya 4 satellite into geosynchronous orbit. Thuraya 4, a project of United Arab Emirates-based company Space42, will soon beam communications signals across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, catering to both commercial and government clients.
The rocket blasted off at 8:27 p. m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), or 0127 GMT, making it an exciting start to the year for space enthusiasts. Just eight minutes and 40 seconds later, the Falcon 9 booster executed a flawless return to Earth, landing safely on SpaceX's droneship, "A Shortfall of Gravitas, " in the Atlantic Ocean. This wasn't the first rodeo for this particular booster; it had already notched up an impressive 20 launches and recoveries, including notable missions like the failed ispace Haukto-R moon lander and resupply trips to the International Space Station (ISS). It also played a role in launching numerous Starlink satellites into orbit.
Once the satellite separation occurred, about 35 minutes into the flight, Thuraya 4 began its journey into geostationary transfer orbit, eventually making its way to geosynchronous orbit where it will hover over a fixed spot on Earth. This mission was a significant one for SpaceX, marking their 418th Falcon 9 flight and the 435th mission overall. With an exceptional 130-plus launches in 2024, this year promises to be even more eventful.
The Thuraya 4 satellite, officially named Thuraya 4-NGS (Next Generation System), was crafted by Airbus and boasts advanced AI-powered technologies. According to Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Yahsat Space Services, one of the two companies under Space42, these technologies will open doors to innovative AI-driven services.
