On April 21, the Cape Canaveral area experienced its second sonic boom of the day. This sound came from a Falcon 9 booster landing after launching a mission named Bandwagon-3, a rideshare mission carrying multiple payloads.
Two Space Missions in a Single Day from Florida
Morning launch delivers cargo to space, evening mission carries satellites
Earlier in the day, another Falcon 9 rocket launched the CRS-32 mission from the Kennedy Space Center. It sent a Cargo Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. Later in the evening, Bandwagon-3 lifted off, making it a double launch day for SpaceX in Florida.
What is the Bandwagon Rideshare Program?
Affordable access to space for small companies and governments
SpaceX’s Bandwagon program helps private companies and government organizations launch their small satellites without needing to book an entire rocket. Bandwagon-3 is the third mission in this series.
- Bandwagon-1 launched in April last year from Kennedy Space Center.
- Bandwagon-2 launched in December from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
To date, SpaceX has launched over 1,130 small satellites for 130 different customers under its rideshare program.
Satellites and Tech Aboard Bandwagon-3
Advanced satellites and a first-of-its-kind re-entry capsule join the ride
Onboard the Bandwagon-3 mission were:
- Korea’s ADD 425Sat-3
- Tomorrow-S7 by Tomorrow Companies Inc.
- PHOENIX capsule by Atmos Space Cargo
Tomorrow Companies Inc. combines satellite data, AI, and weather forecasting to help communities prepare for weather threats. They plan to launch more satellites in the future for global coverage.
Atmos Space Cargo’s PHOENIX capsule is a big step for space tech. It is the company’s first test of a capsule designed to return cargo from space safely and affordably. PHOENIX uses a unique inflatable reentry system, which no other company has attempted before.
Rocket Lands Smoothly with a Sonic Boom
Third flight of Falcon 9 booster ends with powerful return to Earth
About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster landed at Landing Zone 2 in Cape Canaveral. This created the day’s second sonic boom. This booster had previously launched:
- SES’s O3b mPOWER-E satellite
- NASA‘s Crew-10 mission
What’s Next for SpaceX?
More satellites heading to space soon
SpaceX’s next launch is the Starlink 6-74 mission, planned for no earlier than 9:32 p.m. on April 24. It will take place from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40, delivering more Starlink internet satellites into orbit.
Amazon’s Kuiper Satellites Also Ready to Launch
New date set for Amazon’s satellite mission
The Amazon Kuiper satellite launch will now take place no earlier than April 28. The Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance, will lift off from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41 during a two-hour launch window starting at 7 p.m.
