The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is preparing to set off on Sunday from Cape Canaveral during a two-hour window.
On Sunday, SpaceX plans to make the first military launch with a payload for the National Intelligence Agency. It is engaged in the production and operation of US reconnaissance satellites.
Only the name of the payload is known - NROL-76, which was announced last year, but the details were not published.
Falcon 9 starts at the time of the 2-hour window from Cape Canaveral (Florida) on Sunday. 10 minutes after launch, the first stage will activate the engines and go to Earth to perform a controlled landing in Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral.
This is part of the company's development plan for the production of rockets capable of providing home use services and not reproducing expensive parts for each launch. Ilon Musk has already made several successful landings and platforms located in the ocean. Until now, the US military spent billions of dollars a year on government satellite launches, using the services of the United Launch Alliance - the combined mission of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
In 2014, SpaceX representatives filed a lawsuit against the US Air Force. The company referred to the fact that they unfairly transfer such huge amounts exclusively to one group of persons. After that, SpaceX also signed a couple of contracts for the launch of GPS satellites into orbit.
If the launch on Sunday is to be postponed, the next free window will appear on May 1st.
