SpaceX to Launch World's Heaviest Commercial Communication Satellite into Orbit

The Falcon Heavy rocket will launch into orbit on Thursday at 07:04 AM Yerevan time, carrying the American EchoStar company's communications satellite, Jupiter 3.

According to the specialized site Spaceflight Now, the launch of the SpaceX rocket is scheduled to take place from the Kennedy Space Center's LC-39A launch pad at 11:04 PM Wednesday evening (local time). The communication satellite, weighing 9.2 tons, is the heaviest in the world.

The device, which will reach a geostationary orbit, is designed for ultra-fast internet connectivity. It is capable of providing a maximum throughput of 500 gigabits/second in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America.

The satellite is valued at $445 million and was ordered from manufacturer Maxar by EchoStar and its subsidiary, Hughes Network Systems.

After separating from the carrier, the Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters are expected to make vertical landings at LZ-1 and LZ-2 sites at the Cape Canaveral launch area in Florida.