DocM Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Thaicom-6 is an Orbital Sciences commsat for Thailand, and will be Falcon 9's second launch to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Thaicom-6: NET December 12 (change due to SES-8 slip) http://www.orbital.com/SatellitesSpace/Communications/Thaicom6/ The Thaicom 6 Satellite design is based on Orbital's highly successful, flight-proven, GeoStar-2 ? satellite platform, and will be manufactured and tested at Orbital's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dulles, VA. Thaicom 6 will be located at 78.5 degrees East Longitude, and carry a hybrid Ku- and C-band payload that will generate approximately 3.7 kilowatts of payload power. The Ku-band payload will be comprised of eight active transponders providing services to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The C-band payload will feature 12 active C-band transponders providing services via a regional beam to Southeast Asia, and six active C-band transponders providing services via a south Africa beam to southern Africa and Madagascar. Performance: C-band C1 Repeater: 12 active C-band transponders C2 Repeater: 6 active C-band transponders Payload Power: 3.7kW Ku-band Repeater: 8 active Ku-band transponders Antenna: 2.5m x 2.7m single offset super-elliptical deployable reflector antenna Stabilization: 3-axis stabilized; zero momentum Launch Mass: 3,325 kg (7,330 lb.) Mission Life: ? 15 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Thaicom-6 has shipped to KSC, with launch set for NET Dec. 22. We'll see if it slips due to the SES-8 delay. About Thaicom-6: http://www.orbital.com/SatellitesSpace/Communications/Thaicom6/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Well, just over 2,5 weeks from now. Would be a good test for turnaround time by SpaceX! I mean, if they mean business and want to produce 40 cores per year and launch them they are going to have to work quick :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Yup. Upcoming in the next few months- Thaicom_6 Start of F9R-1 (Grasshopper 2) tests Dragon 2 parachute test ISS CRS-3 w/landing test Dragon 2 pad abort test Raptor methane engine tests at NASA Stennis ORBCOMM 1 ORBCOMM 2 Dragon 2 MAX-Q abort test Falcon Heavy maiden flight ISS CRS-4 . Probably good that they're up to 3,800+ people now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 9, 2013 Author Share Posted December 9, 2013 www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/12/04/spacex-launch-successful/3866655/ > Musk said SpaceX might try to recover that rocket's (note: Thaicom-6) first stage from the ocean, depending in part on data collected during the SES-8 mission. > Thaicom-6's launch will probably slip to the first week of January, partly due to the SES-8 launch delay and KSC doing range work the week before and (if needed) after Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 I just wonder if they found a way to stabilize the 1st stage when trying to soft land into the ocean without landing legs. We know they need the legs to balance the rocket and prevent it from spinning and cutting the fuel flow to the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 10, 2013 Author Share Posted December 10, 2013 They did some stage maneuvering with SES-8 after separation. We also know they were doing work on tank baffles when the N2 tanks failed at McGregor and that they think the rotation was from aero forces on the tank at lower altitudes. Legs may not be necessary. Perhaps they've found a rotation fix, including aero changes to the tank & baffles to keep the fuel from centrifuging, and are ready to try them out. Whatever, I'm going to need popcorn & beer for this one :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 No public confirmation of this from KSC yet, but it is looking accurate. If so, it looks like New Years fireworks. Break out the popcorn! http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/spacex-satellite-launch-set-for-dec/article_b31d65b4-6822-11e3-9f40-001a4bcf887a.html > SpaceX's next Falcon 9 rocket flight, launching a Thai communications satellite into orbit, is now set for Dec. 31, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Air Force's Eastern Range launch support team. The window for the launch from SpaceX's complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., would begin at 4:57 p.m. CST. > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Man that would suck... thats 3 minutes to midnight for me! My GF would _not_ be cool if I bailed out a couple of minutes before midnight to watch a rocket launch :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 From Stephen Clark's Twitter: @StephenClark1: The next Falcon 9 launch with Thaicom 6 is targeted for Jan. 3. Window opens at 5:57 pm EST (2257 GMT). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 Confirmed by Patrick AFB Launch Vehicle/Mission: Falcon 9/Thaicom 6 Date: Jan. 3, 2014 Launch Window: 5:57 p.m. - 7:23 p.m. EST Pad: SLC-40 Backup: Jan 4, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Man that would suck... thats 3 minutes to midnight for me! My GF would _not_ be cool if I bailed out a couple of minutes before midnight to watch a rocket launch :D Take her with you! Night time rocket launches are awesome to watch! The Evil Overlord 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 You can say that again, especially in person! I'be seen 4 night launches at KSC and it's freaking AWESOME!! Youu can actually feel the low frequency pressure waves vibrating your innards several miles away, then there's the plume itself. On a clear night you can see it well past stage separation. Wow...just flat out WOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 I'd love to see another launch, but the last one I saw was the Challenger. Not sure I could actually watch another though, no matter how much I want to. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geertd Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 would love to see one but sadly no launches where i live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 Launch window now a few minutes earlier. Falcon 9 v1.1 / Thaicom-6 Satellite: http://www.orbital.com/SatellitesSpace/Communications/Thaicom6/ FRR: flight readiness review LRR: launch readiness review WDR: wet dress rehearsal Hot Fire: engines test (3-4 sec) Dec. 23: FRR, passed Dec. 27: WDR + Hot Fire Jan. 2: LRR Launch: Jan. 3 2014 Window: 1750-1917 Local (KSC) Backup: Jan. 4 2014, with a window of 1751-1917 Local Orbit: super-synchronous transfer orbit Webcast: should start ~30 min before the launch window opens http://www.spacex.com/webcast/ http://new.livestream.com/spacex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Hot-fire performed. The data is still being examined, but so far it looks good for a Friday launch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Awesome, I really hope that this time around it will go off without a hitch and in the first shot as well. They could use that! I will be watching with some beer and snacks :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Yup,me too. Looking forward to the first Grasshopper 2/F9R hop too. Shouldn't be long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingskippy Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 I'm thinking about going down to FL to watch the launch. Does anyone know of any good spots to watch from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 I'm thinking about going down to FL to watch the launch. Does anyone know of any good spots to watch from? Views of LC-40 http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-news/launch-viewing-guide-spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-with-thaicom-6/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 The USAF 45th Space Wing (KSC) is reporting a change in the launch window. It's now 1705-1917 (5:05 PM to 7:17 PM) EST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingskippy Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Thanks doc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Ben Cooper ?@LaunchPhoto 1h The launch of Falcon 9 with THAICOM 6 is delayed till next week. A new date is not yet set. Retweeted by Jeff Foust Huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 They have to do some work on the cargo fairing. The date is to undecided as Orbital is launching Antares-Cygnus from Wallops and both need to use the Bermuda ground station. Target date is the 6th if no conflicts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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