CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, FL – A ground breaking robotic mission dubbed MRV-MEP has the goal of extending the lifetime of aging and malfunctioning satellites residing in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and is aiming for liftoff on atop a veteran SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on July 21 from the Florida Space Coast.
This counts as a very rare SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster that will be expended at the conclusion of the powered flight
The Northrop Grumman-built Mission Robotic Vehicle is equipped with three jet packs called Mission Extension Pods – hence the ungainly name of MRV-MEP
This new commercial spacecraft built be Northrop Grumman is a robotic servicing mission capable of repair, refuel and relocate and even upgrading satellites orbiting in GEO and will latch ontp them using two 10-foot long highly capable robotic arms!
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, July 21 for launch of the Northrop Grumman MRV-MEP mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The four-hour window opens at 5:15 p.m. ET July 21.
If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on Wednesday, July 22 during a four-hour window that opens at the same time.
Enjoy our photos taken at pad 40 on July 21 by the team of Ken Kremer and Jean Wright for Space UpClose with the integrated and veteran SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket vertical at the launch complex
Severl of the photos taken by Ken Kremer were featured on Fox 35 Orlando during his live interview with the station about the upcoming MRV-MEP mission as well SpaceX Starship Test Flight 13
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Due to the additional performance needed to launch these payloads to geosynchronous transfer orbit, this was the 32nd and final flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster
Due to the additional performance needed to launch these payloads to geosynchronous transfer orbit, this will be the 32nd and final flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission,
It previously launched CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18 and SES-19, and 27 Starlink missions.
Ken Kremer recent TV interviews
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