© SpaceX
Luxembourg's first Earth observation satellite, LUXEOSys, has been successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the start of a new chapter in the country's civilian and military space capabilities.
Luxembourg has successfully placed its first observation satellite, LUXEOSys, into orbit. The satellite was launched on Tuesday evening at around 9pm Luxembourg time aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California. Just under twelve minutes later, LUXEOSys was released into orbit, while the reusable booster had already landed back in California.
Unlike Luxembourg’s GovSat-1 communications satellite, LUXEOSys will not remain geostationary but instead circle the Earth about 15 times per day. The satellite, designed for both civilian and military use, is expected to begin operations in around six months, with a planned lifetime of seven to ten years.
The project, however, has been accompanied by years of delays, budget overruns, and political controversy.
