SpaceX - Falcon 9 - ASBM - SLC-4E - Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA - August 12, 2024

Launch Date: August 11 (PDT)
Launch Time: 7:02 p.m. PDT (0202 UTC, 04:02 CEST - August 12)
Launch Window: No launch window
Launch Site: SLC-4E - Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA
Targeted Orbit: Molniya Transfer Orbit
Launch Inclination: South-East
Launch Status: Satellites ASBM-1 & ASBM-2 deployed successfully

Mission: Arctic Satellite BroadbandMission (ASBM)
Launch Provider: SpaceX
Customer: U.S. Space Force and Space Norway
Launcher System: Falcon 9 (Booster B1061)
Flight for the Booster: 22
Previous Flights of the Booster: 21 - Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425, Maxar 1, and 10 Starlink missions
Landing: Autonomous Droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" (OCISLY)

SpaceX is targeting August 11 for a Falcon 9 launch of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) to a high elliptical orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Station in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:02 p.m. PDT (0202 UTC, 04:02 CEST - August 12).

This is the 22nd flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425, Maxar 1, and 10 Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Flight trajectory will be southeast, along the coast of California. You will find more information about the trajectory and data on the day of the launch here: flightclub.io/live

The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission is designed to expand broadband coverage to the Arctic region for the U.S. Space Force and Space Norway.

ASBM employs two satellites designed by Northrop Grumman to reach the Arctic coverage area in a highly elliptical orbit. The satellites include multiple payloads, including military payloads for the U.S. and Norwegian Armed Forces, a commercial payload for Viasat, and a radiation monitor for the European Commission. This marks the first time an operational DoD payload (EPS-R) will be hosted on an international space vehicle.

As the industry begins to see more government-commercial hybrid missions and more missions with stakeholders from multiple countries, Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor defining possible in space by designing, providing, integrating, and testing both spacecraft, ASBM-1 and ASBM-2. ASBM leverages Northrop Grumman’s vertically integrated manufacturing and design capabilities to offer the GEOStar-3 flight-proven spacecraft bus and secondary structures, propellant tanks, solar arrays, and heat pipe panels.

EPS-R
Northrop Grumman's secure payload interface completely isolates EPS-R from the rest of the satellite, paving the way for future hybrid military-commercial launches and reducing the cost of distributing capabilities.

With the EPS-R Payload, Northrop Grumman delivers protected, anti-jam military satellite communications coverage to U.S. forces operating in the Arctic region.

CAPS
Northrop Grumman also provides the Control and Planning Segment (CAPS). This next-generation ground system receives telemetry and supplies configuration commands, mission planning, and cryptographic planning for the EPS and EPS-R polar-orbiting payloads.

Military Broadband
Northrop Grumman built a military broadband payload to be operated by the Norwegian Armed Forces. This is the first dedicated military capability in the Arctic, and it will be an essential capacity for Allied nations operating in the High North.
Commercial Broadband

Through the Northrop Grumman-built satellites, Viasat will be able to provide seamless broadband to aerospace, maritime, and ground users operating in the High North.