Space Coast Daily
### WATCH LIVE: SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile Set to Launch Rocket From Cape Canaveral at 4:52 a.m. A SpaceX rocket is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 4:52 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 9. The rocket will carry a communications satellite for AST SpaceMobile, a company that plans to provide global broadband internet service using satellites in low Earth orbit. The launch will be the first for AST SpaceMobile and the first for SpaceX in 2023. It will also be the first launch from Cape Canaveral since the successful launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on May 19, 2022. The launch will be livestreamed on SpaceX's website and YouTube channel. ### What is AST SpaceMobile? AST SpaceMobile is a company that plans to provide global broadband internet service using satellites in low Earth orbit. The company's satellites will be equipped with large, high-power antennas that will allow them to connect directly to mobile phones and other devices. AST SpaceMobile's goal is to provide affordable and reliable internet access to people in remote and underserved areas, as well as to provide backup internet service for critical infrastructure. ### What is the SpaceX Rocket? The rocket that will launch AST SpaceMobile's satellite is a SpaceX Falcon 9. The Falcon 9 is a two-stage reusable rocket that has been used to launch a variety of payloads into orbit. including satellites, cargo, and crewed missions. The Falcon 9 rocket is 229 feet tall and has a diameter of 12 feet. It is powered by nine Merlin engines that produce 1.7 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. The Falcon 9 rocket is capable of carrying a payload of up to 55,000 pounds to low Earth orbit. ### What is the Launch Window? The launch window for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is from 4:52 a.m. to 6:02 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 9. The launch window is the period of time during which the rocket can be launched and still reach its intended orbit. The launch window is determined by a number of factors, including the weather, the position of the Earth, and the position of the satellite. ### How to Watch the Launch The launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will be livestreamed on SpaceX's website and YouTube channel. The livestream will begin at 4:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 9. You can also follow the launch on social media. SpaceX will be posting updates on Twitter and Instagram.
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