Cape Canaveral prepping for third launch in three weeks

James Dean | Florida Today

CAPE CANAVERAL — Cape Canaveral Air Force Station could host its third launch in as many weeks if SpaceX lifts off as planned next Saturday afternoon.

A Falcon 9 rocket is targeting launch of Turkmenistan's first satellite at 4:04 p.m. ET, the opening of a one-hour window at Launch Complex 40.

The contact with satellite builder Thales Alenia Space calls for launch a communications satellite to a geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles over the equator.

The satellite will enable Turkmenistan "to secure and enhance Turkmenistan communication means," according to Thales.

As with SpaceX's first launch this month on March 1, the company will not attempt to land the Falcon 9 booster on a drone ship in the ocean because of the satellite's weight and flight to a high orbit.

The next attempt to do that will likely be on SpaceX's next launch of cargo to the International Space Station, currently targeted for no earlier than April 10, according to NASA's website.

Meanwhile, SpaceX has officially named the Cape Canaveral site where it eventually hopes to fly boosters back for refurbishment and reuse.

A new sign now identifies the former Launch Complex 13 as "Landing Complex 1."

SpaceX and the Air Force recently agreed to a lease of the property for the proposed booster landings.

Before trying to do that, SpaceX must demonstrate the rocket stage's ability to perform precision landings out in the ocean, which the company has not yet done successfully.

A first attempt came close, but ended with a fiery crash when the booster hit the deck of SpaceX's "autonomous spaceport drone ship."