Watch: SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Arabsat Badr-8 Satellite to Geosynchronous Orbit

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Arabsat BADR-8 satellite on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch occurred at 11:25 p.m. EDT (0325 GMT on May 24).

The Arabsat BADR-8 satellite is a geostationary communications satellite that will provide broadband internet, television, and other telecommunications services to customers in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The satellite is built by Thales Alenia Space and is based on the company’s Spacebus 4000B2 platform.

The Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Arabsat BADR-8 satellite was a reused booster that had previously flown on three other missions. The rocket’s first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The launch of the Arabsat BADR-8 satellite was the 36th launch of the year for SpaceX and the 26th orbital launch attempt so far in 2023 from Florida’s Space Coast.

The launch of the Arabsat BADR-8 satellite was a success and the satellite is now in orbit and on its way to its final geostationary transfer orbit. Once the satellite reaches its final orbit, it will be fully checked out and begin providing services to its customers.

Watch Falcon 9 launch the @Arabsat BADR-8 mission to orbit → https://t.co/bJFjLCilmc https://t.co/TljByYlE1S

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 24, 2023

The launch of the Arabsat BADR-8 satellite is a significant milestone for SpaceX and for the commercial space industry. The launch demonstrates the reliability and reusability of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and the company’s ability to launch large and complex satellites into orbit. The launch also highlights the growing demand for commercial telecommunications services in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

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