SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon 9 rocket with a payload that has been shrouded in secrecy to the point of not disclosing any specifics of the mission, and not using its original name.
All regulatory filings and U.S. government agencies like the Space Force and the Federal Aviation Administration call the payload ‘Optus-X,†while SpaceX calls the mission ‘TD7.†Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASAâ€s Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, Nov. 17, is targeting the beginning of an almost two-hour launch window, which opens at 4:29 p.m. EST (2129 UTC) and closes at 6:27 p.m. EST (2327 UTC)
Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about an hour prior to liftoff.
Weather for launch is about as good as it gets on Floridaâ€s Space Coast. On Saturday, the 45th Weather Squadron forecast a greater than 95 percent chance for favorable weather at liftoff.
Mild winds and cumulus clouds were highlights at launch, but the booster recovery area does remain somewhat of a watch item.
“A seasonably cool and dry airmass will remain in place across the Spaceport over the next few days as a large area of high pressure slides out of the Great Lakes and off the coast of the Carolinas,†meteorologists wrote. “With light onshore flow in place, a low-topped stratocumulus deck is likely, though this is expected to be far too warm for any launch weather concerns.â€
Following liftoff, SpaceX will have tied the total number of Space Shuttle launches from Launch Complex 39A with just its Falcon 9 rocket at 82 launches each. SpaceX is also close to eclipsing the total number of launches from NASA at that pad.
NASA launched a total of 94 missions (82 Space Shuttle and 12 Saturn 5) from LC-39A and to date, SpaceX launched 92 missions (81 Falcon 9 and 11 Falcon Heavy).
The Falcon 9 first stage booster for this mission, tail number B1077 in the SpaceX fleet, will be launching for a 16th time. It previously supported the launches of three missions to the International Space Station (Crew-5, CRS-28 and Cygnus NG-20), GPS 3 Space Vehicle 06 and nine previous Starlink missions.
Nearly nine minutes after liftoff, B1077 will touchdown on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.†If successful, this will be the 85th booster landing on ASOG and the 369th booster landing to date.
Secret payload
The payload flying on the mission dubbed ‘TD7†on SpaceX’s webpage will head to a geosynchronous transfer orbit, but timing of deployment was not disclosed prior to the launch.
A number of publications have offered speculation regarding the functionality of the Optus-X spacecraft, claiming that it is the fulfillment of a contract announced in 2022 between Northrop Grumman and SpaceLogistics for a Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) spacecraft on behalf of Optus Networks Party Limited (Optus), an Australian telecommunications company.
However, Spaceflight Now understands that Sundayâ€s mission is not the execution of that contract.
Filings with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) state that Optus is a subsidiary of Singtel Optus Pty. Ltd., which in turn is a subsidiary of Singapore Telecom Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., which is in turn is a subsidiary of SingTel Australia Investment Ltd., a British Virgin Islands investment holding company.
The name ‘Optus-X†was referenced by the FAA in its flight schedule and by the U.S. Space Force when making its launch weather forecast. The name also appeared in a FCC filing in late October relating to the use of an Intelsat ground station for post-launch checkouts:
“On October 28, 2024, Intelsat License LLC was granted special temporary authority for 30 days, beginning on October 28, 2024 through November 26, 2024, to operate its Ka-band antenna in Nuevo, CA, to provide launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) services to communicate with the Optus X satellite at the 29.625 GHz and 29.630 GHz (Earth-to-space) and 19.825 GHz and 19.830 GHz (space-to-Earth) center frequencies.â€
In the letter requesting that special temporary authority (STA) dated Sept. 24, 2024, from W. Ray Rutngamlug, Intelsatâ€s Associate General Counsel, to FCC Secretary Marlene Dortch, Rutngamlug stated in a footnote that Optus X will operate at the 87.75 degrees east longitude.Â
“Grant of this STA request will allow Intelsat to help launch the Optus X satellite,†Rutngamlug wrote. “This will allow Optus X to provide capacity at the nominal 88.0° E.L. location and thereby promotes the public interest.â€Â
Rutngamlug also confirmed Northrop Grummanâ€s role in the mission.
“Intelsat clarifies that during the Optus X mission, Northrop Grumman will serve as the mission manager,†he wrote. “Northrop Grumman will build and send the commands to the Intelsat antenna, which will process and execute the commands. Telemetry received by Intelsat will be forwarded to Northrop Grumman.â€
A Northrop Grumman official referred questions about the mission to Optus, which has not responded to Spaceflight Now’s requests for additional information.
