In an exciting development for the satellite launch industry, SpaceX is gearing up for its Bandwagon-1 mission, the inaugural flight of their new rideshare service. The mission aims to deploy multiple satellites into mid-inclination orbits, providing an alternative launch option for small satellite operators. Traditionally, these operators have relied on smaller launchers such as Rocket Lab's Electron to reach such orbits.

Scheduled for no earlier than Sunday, April 7, at 7:17 PM EDT (23:17 UTC), the Falcon 9 rocket will blast off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. It will transport its payloads to a 45.4-degree orbital inclination with a minimum altitude of 590 kilometers. After completing its mission, the Falcon 9 will perform a return-to-launch-site landing at Landing Zone 1, located just a few miles to the south.

At least ten payloads are expected to be carried on this mission, including South Korea's 425 Project satellite, which is part of a constellation consisting of five satellites. Built by a consortium comprising Thales Alenia Space, Korean Aerospace Industries, and Hanwha Systems Corporation, the satellite features a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload. It is the second satellite of the constellation to be launched by SpaceX, with the first being an optical Earth observation satellite launched in December 2023.

Another notable payload is the SAR satellite named "TSUKUYOMI-II," developed by the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. This small high-resolution X-band SAR Earth observation satellite will be the first of over 30 operational satellites in its constellation. Equipped with a 3.6-meter diameter antenna and weighing only 10 kilograms, it has a remarkable resolution of 0.7 meters and can even identify cars on the road. The satellite also includes deployable solar arrays and electric thrusters for station keeping and deorbiting purposes.

Capella Space's Acadia-4 satellite is also set to launch on the Bandwagon-1 mission. While Capella has previously used SpaceX for launches to Sun-synchronous orbits, this will be their first mission to a mid-inclination orbit. These SAR satellites possess a 700 megahertz radar bandwidth for enhanced imaging capabilities.

Additionally, India's first privately-produced military satellite, TSAT 1A, will take to the skies in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Satellogic, a Latin American firm. This advanced satellite, controlled by a state-of-the-art ground control center in Bengaluru, will empower India by providing high-resolution images with a remarkable resolution of 0.5 meters.

Completing the list of payloads are six Hawkeye 360 satellites, designed to detect electronic signals and monitor human activity worldwide. The Space Flight Laboratory at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies manufactures the bus and integrates the radio frequency payload developed by HawkEye 360.

Meanwhile, in another section of the space community, the Delta IV Heavy rocket is preparing for its final launch. Originating from the Delta family that started its service in May 1960, this variant will fly a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The previous launch attempt was halted due to a faulty pump related to the pad's gaseous nitrogen supply.

The Delta IV Heavy, the heaviest-lifting member of the Delta IV family, mounts two boosters alongside a common booster core (CBC) stage. As the last vehicle from the Delta IV family, the Heavy variant was chosen by the NRO to serve heavier payloads until new launch vehicles become fully operational. Known for its reliability, the Delta IV Heavy has an impressive track record, with a success rate of 95 percent.

The final Delta IV Heavy mission, designated NROL-70, is anticipated to launch from SLC-37B at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) on April 8 at 12:57 PM EDT (16:57 UTC). If past patterns hold, it will deliver its payload into a geostationary orbit, making it distinct from the electro-optical reconnaissance payloads launched from SLC-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB).

With a capacity to place up to 13,810 kilograms into a geostationary transfer orbit, the Delta IV Heavy will embark on its 16th overall flight and its lone mission of 2024. This launch will mark the end of an era for the Delta family, having deployed a total of 389 rockets over the course of the space age.

As the launch dates draw near, all eyes in the space industry are focused on SpaceX's Bandwagon-1 mission and the final flight of the Delta IV Heavy, eagerly anticipating the successful deployment of their payloads into their respective orbits.