Friday morning’s launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB remains on schedule for 3:46 a.m. PST. The following is an update on the launch from SpaceX:
NASA’s SWOT MISSION
SWOT mission coverage will be provided by NASA. Tune in to https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive to watch the live broadcast, starting at 3:00 a.m. PT on Friday, December 16.
SpaceX is targeting Friday, December 16 for a Falcon 9 launch of NASA’s Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The 10-minute launch window opens at 3:46 a.m. PT (11:46 UTC).
The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
SWOT is an internationally developed mission to conduct the first global survey of Earth’s surface water. It aims to provide a new understanding of the ocean’s role in climate change and improve the data humanity relies upon for fresh water management.
To learn more about NASA science missions, visit the URL https://www.nasa.gov
Diem ‘Richard’ Nguyen