SpaceX is gearing up for the upcoming launch of the Bandwagon-1 mission, introducing a new series of rideshare missions. The mission will see 11 satellites being launched onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Scheduled for liftoff on April 7, 2024, at 7:16 p.m. EDT (2316 UTC), the 45th Weather Squadron has forecasted over 95 percent odds of favorable conditions at launch time. Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage of the mission, starting approximately an hour before liftoff.

Similar to the "Transporter" rideshare flights, the Bandwagon-1 mission will deploy its batch of satellites gradually. However, unlike previous missions, SpaceX has not disclosed the specific timing of the deployments, possibly due to the presence of the South Korean Project 425 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites onboard. SpaceX took a similar approach with the last batch of these satellites.

The first stage booster for this mission, tail number B1073 in the SpaceX fleet, is embarking on its 14th flight. It has previously supported nine Starlink missions and launched the HAKUTO-R lunar lander into space.

After stage separation, the B1073 booster will head back to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This landing will mark the 40th successful landing at LZ-1 and the 294th booster landing overall.

The Bandwagon-1 launch has generated excitement in the industry, with companies like Capella Space showcasing their Acadia 4 mission patch. Capella Space, a US-based company, is proud to offer high-resolution SAR and recognizes the infrastructure they have built to develop and deploy satellites.

As SpaceX prepares for the Bandwagon-1 launch, the attention is on the successful deployment of the 11 satellites and the return of the B1073 booster. This mission highlights SpaceX's commitment to advancing space exploration through rideshare missions, opening up opportunities for various organizations to reach orbit.