CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — While the teams were eying winds at the launch pad, it looks like the luck of the Irish was with SpaceX as it successfully launched two European communication satellites on St. Patrick’s Day from Florida’s Space Coast.

What You Need To Know

  • SpaceX’s sent up SES’s SES-18 and SES-19 satellites

  • The SES-18 and 19 are GeoStar-3 satellites

  • 🔻Scroll down to watch the launch🔻

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket sent up SES’s SES-18 and SES-19 satellites to geosynchronous transfer orbit on Friday night, the company stated.

The rocket took off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The 38-minute launch window opened at 7:38 p.m. EDT and it went off on time.

For the SES-18 and SES-19 mission, first-stage booster B1069 has completed five successful missions:

After the first-stage separation, the Falcon 9 rocket landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions that is out in the Atlantic Ocean.

The 45th Weather Squadron gave an 80% chance of good launch weather, with the only concern being liftoff winds.

“While there is little risk of a Lightning Launch Commit Criteria violation, the near surface Liftoff Winds will be the primary concern during the launch window,” the agency stated on Thursday.

That type of violation means that the Falcon 9 should not launch near a thunderstorm or cloud that has produced lightning, according to NASA's weather launch criteria for the rocket. 

Earlier in evening, SpaceX tweeted that the “teams are keeping an eye on winds” at Space Launch Complex 40.

If for whatever reason the launch does not happen Friday night, the next chance would have been on Saturday, March 18, with a 37-minute window opening at 7:38 p.m. EDT.

It was the second launch fo the day for SpaceX, with the company sending up Starlink satellites in California.

About the satellite

Based in Luxembourg, SES is a telecommunications company that provides satellite and various forms of broadcasting around the world.

Northrop Grumman received the contract to design, build and test the two satellites, SES stated. They will provide TV and radio coverage to millions of American homes as well as data transmission services.

The SES-18 and 19 are GeoStar-3 satellites.

Watch the launch

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