SpaceX is preparing again to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SES-12 spacecraft after its Friday launch was canceled for additional testing. The four-hour launch window opens on Monday, June 4 at 12:29 a.m. EDT. The satellite will be deployed roughly 32 minutes after liftoff. The satellite's on-board electric propulsion system will maneuver the craft into a circular geostationary orbit around 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) over the equator in the next few months. For example, the company has launched pre-flown Dragon capsules on robotic cargo missions to the International Space Station, and two of the three Falcon 9 first stages that form the core of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket landed successfully during the huge launcher's debut flight in February.
The first stage has flown once before, in September 2017, carrying the robotic X-37B space plane for the US military. This satellite will provide video, data, and other communications services across the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. Its first stages are created to fly 10 times with inspections between landing and launch only, and 100 times or more with some refurbishment involved.
N.Korea shakes up military leadership ahead of Trump summit
The three are believed to be serving life imprisonment of hard labor on charges of plotting to overthrow the Kim Jong-un regime. Singapore will foot North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's astronomical hotel bill when he stays there for a summit with U.S.
SpaceX has since upgraded its Falcon 9 rocket, so it did not attempt a recovery effort of the booster this time.
This is the second time that Falcon 9 has taken off from the same pad.
