Falcon 9 Block 5 | CHORUS
Falcon 9 • Falcon
📝 Mission Description
Falcon 9's CHORUS Mission: Revolutionizing Earth Observation
On December 31, 2026, SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket is set to lift off, carrying the CHORUS mission into orbit. This launch marks a significant advancement in Earth observation technology, deploying MDA's next-generation constellation designed to provide unprecedented radar imaging capabilities. CHORUS, a collaborative effort involving multiple sensors, aims to deliver near real-time insights into global phenomena, enhancing applications from environmental monitoring to disaster response.
At the heart of the mission are its objectives: to establish a multi-sensor Earth observation constellation that integrates diverse data sources for innovative services. The payload consists of two radar satellites—a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and an X-band SAR—operating in a low Earth orbit (LEO) at 600 km altitude with a 53.5-degree inclination. This setup allows the X-band satellite to trail the C-band by 60 minutes, enabling complementary imaging. CHORUS's capabilities are impressive, offering day-and-night imaging unaffected by weather, with daily access to up to 95% of its coverage area. The system boasts an industry-leading 700 km-wide swath for broad surveillance and sub-meter resolution for detailed analysis, making it the most extensive radar imaging capacity in a single mission. These features will support critical tasks like tracking climate change, managing natural resources, and aiding humanitarian efforts by providing timely, high-fidelity data.
The Falcon 9 Block 5, the workhorse of SpaceX's fleet, is ideally suited for this deployment. This two-stage rocket stands 70 meters tall with a diameter of 3.7 meters and a launch mass of about 549 tons. Powered by Merlin engines—nine on the first stage and one vacuum-optimized on the second—it generates over 7.6 million Newtons of thrust at liftoff. The Block 5 variant incorporates upgrades for reusability, including enhanced heat shielding, stronger landing legs, and improved engine performance, allowing the first stage to return for vertical landings. For CHORUS, the rocket will target the precise LEO insertion required for the satellites' mid-inclination orbit, demonstrating Falcon 9's versatility in handling payloads up to 22,800 kg to LEO.
Falcon 9's performance history underscores its reliability. Since its debut in 2010, it has completed over 300 launches with a success rate exceeding 98%, including numerous reusable missions that have drastically
ℹ️ Official Details
CHORUS is MDA's next generation Earth observation constellation, consisting of 2 radar satellites (C-band SAR and X-band SAR), in a 53.5 degree 600 km altitude LEO, with the X-band trailing the C-band by 60 minutes. A collaborative multi-sensor constellation, CHORUS will bring together diverse and unique imagery and data sources and provide a new level of near real-time insight and innovative Earth observation services. Operating in a unique mid-inclination orbit, CHORUS will be able to image day or night, regardless of weather conditions, with daily access of up to 95% of the coverage area. From an industry-leading 700km-wide imaging swath down to sub-metre high resolution, CHORUS will provide the most extensive and unrivalled Earth observation radar imaging capacity available on the market in a single mission.