45th Space Wing Supports SpaceX Thaicom 6 Mission

45th Space Wing Public Affairs

1/8/2014 - CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- The U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing provided Eastern Range support to the successful launch of the Thaicom 6 communications satellite from Space Launch Complex 40 here at 5:06 p.m. Jan 6.

The 45th Space Wing team of military personnel, government civilians, and contractors provided launch support to the Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) mission, including weather forecasts, launch and range operations, security, safety, and public affairs.

"I am immensely proud of the work of the wing and our mission partners," said Col. Robert Pavelko, vice commander, 45th Space Wing, who also served as the Launch Decision Authority.

"This is a tremendous way to open 2014, and we look forward to an exciting launch manifest in the year ahead," he said.

The launch of the Thaicom 6 satellite is the second commercial launch by SpaceX. The satellite will provide C-band and Ku-band communications services across Southeast Asia and Africa. It will fly in a geostationary orbit approximately 22,000 miles above the Earth's equator.

The Falcon 9 launch vehicle flew in the v1.1 configuration with upgraded Merlin 1D engines, stretched fuel tanks, and a payload fairing. The Thaicom 6 mission was the second launch of the Falcon 9 v.1.1 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The mission was also SpaceX's second launch of a payload to geostationary orbit.