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Falcon 9: SES-12 commsat

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  • Falcon 9: SES-12 commsat

    Another regular customer,

    Payload: SES-12 commsat
    Customer: SES S.A., Luxembourg

    Launch date: May 24 (may slip)
    Window: 0029-0127 EDT (0429-0527 UTC)
    Core: B1040.2 (X-37B OTV-5)
    Pad: KSC LC-40
    Stage landing: expended (Block 4)

    Satellite bus: Airbus Eurostar-3000EOR
    Orbit: Geostationary transfer orbit
    GEO position: 95° East
    Transponders: 54 Ku band (S. Asia, Asia-Pacific)
    Power: 19kw
    Propulsion: OKB Fakel SPT140D electric (Russian)
    Mass: 5,300kg
    Dr. Mordrid
    ----------------------------
    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

  • #2
    Slips to May 31, 0029 EDT

    @emrekelly (Florida Today)
    Attached: Launch Hazard Area for May 31 SpaceX #SES12 mission from LC 40. Roughly 1.5-hour window for Block 4 #Falcon9 opens at 0029 ET (0429 UTC). Expendable, so no landing attempt.



    Dr. Mordrid
    ----------------------------
    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

    Comment


    • #3
      SpaceX ✔ @SpaceX
      Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting May 31 launch of SES-12 from Pad 40 in Florida.
      9:48 PM - May 24, 2018
      Dr. Mordrid
      ----------------------------
      An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

      I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

      Comment


      • #4
        No surprise at all given subtropical storm Alberto is hitting Western Florida.

        https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1001177877654667264

        SpaceX @SpaceX
        Now targeting June 1 launch of SES-12 from Pad 40; team using additional time to perform pre-launch vehicle checks, also closely watching weather conditions at the Cape.
        Dr. Mordrid
        ----------------------------
        An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

        I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

        Comment


        • #5
          This launcher is a stripped-down Block 4 first stage mated to a beastly Block 5 second stage (205,000 lbf MVacD engine.) Higher thrust + a longer insertion burn should leave the 5,300 kg SES-12 satellite with sufficient residual fuel for 7 extra years of mission life.

          Weather 70% for June 4

          Weather 80% for June 5 (backup day)
          Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 1 June 2018, 11:34.
          Dr. Mordrid
          ----------------------------
          An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

          I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

          Comment


          • #6
            From the SES presser,

            Mass: 5,383.85 kg.
            Target orbit: 294 x 58,000km

            Falcon 9's increased performance will get it to GEO 20 days sooner, and extend SES-12's life from the usual 15 years to 22 years.

            ======

            SpaceX ✔ @SpaceX
            Falcon 9 and SES-12 went vertical this morning on Pad 40 in Florida. Weather is 70% favorable for the four-hour launch window which opens on June 4 at 12:29 a.m. EDT, or 4:29 UTC. http://spacex.com/webcast
            1:29 PM - Jun 3, 2018

            Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 3 June 2018, 12:41.
            Dr. Mordrid
            ----------------------------
            An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

            I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

            Comment


            • #7
              The webcast says T-0 is now 0045 Eastern
              Dr. Mordrid
              ----------------------------
              An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

              I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

              Comment


              • #8


                Peter B. de Selding @pbdes
                Owner @SES_Satellites confirms signal acquisition for SES-12. Successful Falcon 9 mission for @SpaceX. Sat will be moved to 95degE and will deploy its eight antennas.
                1:33 AM - Jun 4, 2018

                https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1003510125838159872
                Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 3 June 2018, 22:47.
                Dr. Mordrid
                ----------------------------
                An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                Comment


                • #9
                  SES CTO: “It’s such a powerful upper stage," Halliwell said. "That engine is a monster."

                  Mass: 5,383.85 kg.
                  Target orbit: 294 x 58,000km

                  Yup.

                  For those counting, this is 538 Merlin 1Ds flown without a hitch.

                  Tom Mueller and his gang of pirates did a helluva job, and the same crew is doing Raptor.
                  Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 4 June 2018, 02:23.
                  Dr. Mordrid
                  ----------------------------
                  An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                  I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Fairing retrieval

                    Julia @julia_bergeron
                    It looks like GO Pursuit bagged her catch overnight and is heading back to Port Canaveral. She was going 8.4 kn at 7:15 am this morning heading west. #SpaceXFleet
                    8:43 AM - Jun 4, 2018 · Titusville, FL

                    https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/s...18232975220737
                    Dr. Mordrid
                    ----------------------------
                    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                    Comment

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