SpaceX is preparing for their second launch within two weeks with yesterday’s successful completion of the Inmarsat-5 static fire test. The company is hoping to perform a launch roughly every two weeks in order to clear their backlog of flights caused by two mishaps. Four launches - Inmarsat-5, CRS-11, BulgariaSat-1 and Iridium NEXT flight 2 are all expected to launch from Kennedy Space Center before the end of June. Remote cameras atop LC-39A’s Fixed Service Structure captured this unique view looking down on the Falcon 9 rocket. The vehicle is seen without its payload or payload fairings - standard practice after the Amos-6 satellite was destroyed in a mishap during that mission’s static fire test in September 2016.
Liftoff of the Inmarsat-5 mission is slated for 7:20pm EDT on Monday, May 15. The satellite can be seen undergoing prelaunch processing below.
P/C: SpaceX/Inmarsat