SpaceX is set to launch NASA’s Lunar Flashlight mission and the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lunar lander on December 1, 2022.
The Lunar Satellite, a briefcase-sized satellite, will embark on a three-month journey past the Moon, eventually being pulled back by Earth and the Sun’s gravity before settling into a science-gathering lunar orbit. The launch is scheduled for 2:07 pm on December 1.
Falcon 9 is vertical on pad 40 in Florida ahead of launch of the @ispace_inc HAKUTO-R Mission 1 – the first privately-led Japanese mission to land on the lunar surface → https://t.co/D9BYeHj1EW pic.twitter.com/mU5BOgE4IB
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 30, 2022
Also onboard the Falcon 9 is the Lunar Flashlight, a small satellite managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. It’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The Japanese-led Ispace HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lunar lander was scheduled to launch on Wednesday morning. The space company late Tuesday tweeted it would be standing down, “to allow for additional pre-flight checkouts.” The new launch time is planned for Thursday, December 1 at 3:37 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Standing down from launch of ispace's HAKUTO-R Mission 1 to allow for additional pre-flight checkouts; now targeting Thursday, December 1 at 3:37 a.m. ET for liftoff
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 30, 2022
Know about SpaceX
SpaceX is an American spacecraft manufacturer, launcher, and satellite communications corporation headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the stated goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars.
The company manufactures the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, several rocket engines, Cargo Dragon and Crew Dragon spacecraft, and Starlink communications satellites.
Also read: SpaceX To Launch Of Japanese Moon Mission
The SpaceX rocket booster will return for landing back at Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 1 about 8 minutes after the liftoff, sending sonic booms across Central Florida.
According to SpaceX, the launch will mark the fifth for this Falcon 9 rocket booster. The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched SES-22 and three Starlink missions.
The company will be streaming the launch live on its YouTube channel. You can watch it in the window below.
