SAOCOM-1B: SpaceX's 100th Launch Will Set Another Record

If everything goes well, today will be the 100th launch by SpaceX. They will be launching the SAOCOM-1B satelite for Argentina.

SAOCOM-1A was launched by SpaceX two years ago from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Launching from the West Coast has been the standard procedure for NASA and other launch providers whenever a polar orbit is needed. Polar orbits are those in which the satellite orbits over the North and South poles, travelling longitudinally, such as Sun-Synchronous orbits. The reason for this is that a rocket heading south from the west coast of California will be over the Pacific Ocean for its entire ascent. This provides safety for those one the ground.

For SAOCOM-1B, which will also be placed in a polar orbit, SpaceX has opted to launch from Florida. Polar launches from Floriday have not been done in over 60 years because of the hazards on the ground for the people in the Carribean Islands. Many of these flight paths are over Cuba which presents other diplomatic concerns.

SpaceX plans to avoid these issues by steering the rocket between the islands so that it is over water during its entire ascent.

"Threading the needle" like this consumes more fuel and presents some engineering challenges, but SpaceX views these costs to be significantly less than operating and maintaining a 2nd launch facility on the West Coast.

Currently all systems are go and there are no expected weather violations. Lift-off is scheduled for 19:18 EDT (23:18 UTC).