SpaceX Launches Ireland’s First Satellite and South Korean Reconnaissance Satellite
Today, SpaceX successfully launched Ireland’s first satellite, as well as a South Korean reconnaissance satellite, into space. The launch, which took place at 1:19 p.m. EST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marked the company’s 250th successful recovery of an orbital class rocket.
The mission, which saw a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a total of 25 satellites into space, included the Educational Irish Research Satellite-1 (EIRSAT-1), built by students from University College Dublin, as well as the first South Korean spy satellite in a set of five contracted to be launched by SpaceX by 2025.
The South Korean satellite, called 425 Project EO/IR, weighs 1,700 pounds and includes capabilities in infrared and electro-optical technologies, as reported by SpaceNews.
EIRSAT-1, on the other hand, is part of the European Space Agency Academy’s Fly Your Satellite program and boasts payloads such as a gamma ray detector, protective coating evaluation, and a unique attitude control system that orients itself with the Earth’s magnetic field.
Alongside these satellites were a variety of commercial satellites, including Space BD’s ISL48, SITAEL’s microHETSat, D-Orbit’s ION SCV Daring Diego, York Space Systems’ Bane, and PlanetIQ’s GNOMES-4.
The successful launch marks the 88th for SpaceX in 2023 and the 84th launch this year with the Falcon 9 rocket. This robust launch cadence demonstrates the company’s continued success in the space industry.