WATCH VIDEO. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has successfully launched the BulgariaSat-1 satellite into orbit.
BulgariaSat-1 is the first geostationary communications satellite in Bulgaria’s history. Built by SSL in Palo Alto, California, it will be located at 1.9 degrees East and provide DTH and data communications services to the Balkans, CEE as a whole, the Middle East, Northern Africa and the Caucasus.
BulgariaSat-1’s payload includes 30 Broadcast Satellite Service (BSS) Ku-band transponders and two Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Ku-band transponders, in order to meet the current demand for HDTV and Ultra HDTV broadcasting, as well as various other communications applications.
Aside from a high-power European beam, BulgariaSat-1 is equipped with a spot beam that can be used to provide extra capacity over the Balkans.
The satellite is designed to provide service for 15 years or longer.
The BulgariaSat-1 launch marks the second time SpaceX has relaunched a rocket booster, the first one being from Florida on March 30. The booster safely landed on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 9 minutes and 10 seconds after launch.
Below is the video of the SpaceX webcast of the launch and return of Falcon 9
