Falcon 9 / Thaicom-6 commsat (mission thread)


Recommended Posts

http://www.thaicom.net/SAT_THCOM6.aspx

 

Platform: Star 2.3 three-axis stabilized satellites Orbital position: 78.5 degrees East Life Expectancy: About 15 years Transponder Capacity: 18 C-band: 12 x 36MHz, 6 x 72MHz (24 TPEs*)
8 Ku-band: 6 x 36MHz, 2 x 54MHz (9 TPEs*)
Manufacturer: Orbital Sciences Corporation U.S.A. Launcher: FALCON 9 Space Exploration Technologies, U.S.A Launch Date Mid of 2013

 

 

They may want to update their website with launch details.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This cropped up in just the last few hours due to the Flight Readiness Review.

Orbital is targeting their delayed (from Dec 17) ORB-1 Cygnus mission for Jan 7, but the long range weather forecast for Wallops (Virginia) has rain on Jan. 6 and freezing temperatures on Jan 7, so the weather gods could bite them.

So long as the weather holds in Florida this might give SpaceX the room they need to use the Bermuda ground station on the 6th.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So why wont they try as planned tomorrow then? What does this launch from the cape have to do with one 4 days later from MARS?

I believe as Doc said "They have to do some work on the cargo fairing" then the reschedule is conflicting with the orbital launch. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So why wont they try as planned tomorrow then? What does this launch from the cape have to do with one 4 days later from MARS?

1) because the fairing work may take >1-2 days and after that a mini-flight readiness review will need to be done on Saturday or Sunday, and 2) because the Bermuda ground station takes a bit of time to be reconfigured between launches.

Not everyone uses the same telemetry channels, the flight track will be different etc. IF SpaceX can get Jan. 6 and Orbitals launch is pushed later it lessens the Bermuda issue.

There are plenty of permutations, including the weather at Wallops which is looking bad for their Jan 7-8th dates. With dates for both up in the air things are definitely iffy, but we may know more by tomorrow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fairing issues are not exclusive to newer launchers or companies.

Ex's: Orbital Sciences, who has been around since 1982, lost 3 missions due to fairing issues a few years ago before it was finally sorted out. NASA lost Mariner 3 when a the fairing literally imploded. Etc. etc. etc.

The real trick is to find the problem before launch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

45th Space Wing -

The Eastern Range has approved a launch date of 6 Jan 14 with a window of 5:06 - 7:08 p.m. EST with a backup date of 7 Jan 14 window of 5:07 - 7:08 p.m. EST.

NOTAM: (notice to airmen, emphasis mine)

A0007/14 [...] - QWMLW EROP X0240

THE FOLLOWING AIRSPACE IN USE FOR A MISSILE LAUNCH/SPLASH DOWN. DURING THESE

TIMES KZMA ARTCC/OAC, KZNY ARTCC/OAC AND TJZS ARTCC/OAC WILL NOT APPROVE IFR

FLIGHT WITHIN 45NM OF THE AFFECTED OCEANIC STATIONARY AIRSPACE RESERVATIONS WEST

OF 5000W AND 50NM EAST OF 5000W OR WITHIN AFFECTED WARNING AREA AIRSPACE.

1401061906 -1401062006 W497A WEST OF 8000W. SFC-FL050.

1401062006 - 1401062206 W497A SFC-FL180.

1401062136 - 1401070036 R2933,R2934, SFC-UNL.

1401062206 - 1401070036 THAT PORTION OF W497A/B DEFINED BY,

1. FROM 2846N 8037W TO 2848N 8025W TO 2822N 7700W TO 2813N 7700W

2804N 7703W TO 2828N 8041W TO BEGINNING. SURFACE TO UNLIMITED.

2. FROM 2807N 7400W TO 2813N 7236W TO 2740N 7001W TO 2728N 6929W TO

2712N 6929W TO 2708N 7001W TO 2723N 7257W TO 2743N 7400W TO BEGININNG.

END PART 1 OF 6 PARTS. 06 JAN 19:06 2014 UNTIL 07 JAN 00:36 2014. CREATED: 03

JAN 20:04 2014

Link to comment
Share on other sites

05falcon9_400300.jpg

Press kit: http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/spacex_thaicom6_presskit.pdf

Events

Vehicle is powered on

Commence loading liquid oxygen (LOX)

Commence loading RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene)

LOX and RP-1 loading complete

Falcon 9 terminal count autosequence started

SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch

Range Control Officer (USAF) verifies range is go for launch

Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks. Turn on pad deck and Niagara water

Pressurize propellant tanks

Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start

Falcon 9 liftoff

Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) 1st stage engine shutdown/main engine cutoff (MECO)

1st and 2nd stages separation

2nd stage engine start

Fairing separation

2nd stage engine cutoff-1 (SECO-1)

2nd stage engine restart

2nd stage engine cutoff-2 (SECO-2)

THAICOM 6 satellite deployed

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tanked up.

Targeting a super-synchronous transfer orbit of 295 km x 90,000 km with a 22.5? orbital inclination. The Thaicom-6 satellites internal propulsion will circularize this into geostationary orbit slot over SE Asia.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Man that was beautiful! Despite several slips in the schedule it is at least very good that this time they could actually go and do it in the first shot without any aborts and resets :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

busy  schedule of commercial activities for 2014 vs. to R&D controversial reusability -- seems he must concentrate all resources to meet routine tasks. he has two choices:

 

1. to become solid, but not superior player.

2. to sink self with hazardous reusability.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

busy  schedule of commercial activities for 2014 vs. to R&D controversial reusability -- seems he must concentrate all resources to meet routine tasks. he has two choices:

 

1. to become solid, but not superior player.

2. to sink self with hazardous reusability.

 

So Sark0y is your only reason to hate SpaceX that they are trying the reusable road or do you have other issues with them?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.