Author Topic: Alcomsat-1 - CZ-3B/G2 - XSLC - December 10, 2017 (16:40 UTC)  (Read 28280 times)

Offline input~2

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Close up on the antenna module (source: APS)

Offline input~2

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Official announcement of launch success
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2017-12/11/c_1122087682.htm

Lift-off time as 16:40 UTC
Some sources quote 16:40:40 UTC

Offline Chris Bergin

Launch video on youtube:
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Offline input~2

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Launch pictures (source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2017-12/11/c_1122087691.htm)

"First international commercial launch of "New Long March""
http://calt.spacechina.com/n689/c10185/content.html

Offline input~2

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Sign reads "Congratulations on full success of Alcomsat-1 satellite launch by LM-3B"
(source: https://twitter.com/CGWIC)
« Last Edit: 12/10/2017 07:31 pm by input~2 »

Offline input~2

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Offline GELORD

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Lift-off time as 16:40:04.230 UTC 
Serial number of the rocket CZ-3B/G2 (Y40)
Code missia — "867-32"
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Offline SciNews

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Alcomsat-1 launched by Long March-3B

Alcomsat-1, Algeria’s first communications satellite, was launched by a Long March-3B launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan province, on 11 December 2017, at 16:41 UTC (00:41 local time).

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In high-res:
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Offline input~2

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2 objects have been cataloged by USSTRATCOM:

Alcomsat-1          2017-078A/43039 in 183 x 41799 km x 26.39° at epoch 2017-12-10 19:27 UTC
CZ-3B 3rd stage 2017-078B/43040 in 143 x 40045 km x 26.37° at epoch 2017-12-10 19:37 UTC

Offline input~2

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Online Satori

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Offline hvdh

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Details on the satellite's payload are still contradicting.
Is the payload just 2*L, 19*Ku, 12*Ka band transponders, or is it UHF, X, Ku, Ka, EHF band.
And no footprint found at all!

Online Satori

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Details on the satellite's payload are still contradicting.
Is the payload just 2*L, 19*Ku, 12*Ka band transponders, or is it UHF, X, Ku, Ka, EHF band.
And no footprint found at all!

If there is any kind of military aplication of AlComSat-1 communications payload, I wouldn't expect any public information about it.

Offline input~2

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Details on the satellite's payload are still contradicting.
Is the payload just 2*L, 19*Ku, 12*Ka band transponders, or is it UHF, X, Ku, Ka, EHF band.
And no footprint found at all!
Ku, Ka as well as military bands on board were first mentionned in the unofficial site menadefense in September 2016.
In its publication soon after launch, CGWIC mentionned only, as you said, 19Ku, 12Ka and 2L (these 2 presumably for the Xinhua referenced GPS augmentation service).
As for footprints, ASAL mentions "couverture nationale  et régionale (Afrique du nord et Sahel)"

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I don't remember now where I've read it, some of the services provided by the new satellite will be used on the fight of Polisario Front with Morocco. So, I firmly believe that the military bands are onboard AlComSat-1 communications satellite.
« Last Edit: 12/12/2017 03:14 pm by Satori »

Offline input~2

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Offline input~2

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Boosters debris were recovered in the NOTAMed area near Dadi village (272100N1081303E) and Maxi village (271720N1080550E), Guizhou province
source

Offline linxiaoyi

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Successful fixed-point

2017年12月18日20时45分,经过8天紧张有序的飞行控制工作,阿尔及利亚一号通信卫星历经5次变轨、3次定点捕获,成功定点于地球静止轨道西经24.8°,为后续投入运营打下坚实基础。中阿双方在西安卫星测控中心共同见证了这一历史时刻。
http://www.spaceflightfans.cn/23487.html

Edit by mod:
English translation:

At 2045 hours [Beijing Time] on 18 December 2017, after eight days of intense and orderly flight control task during which Alcomsat-1 has undergone 5 orbital changes and 3 final orbit acquisition maneuvers, the satellite was successfully located at 24.8 ° west longitude in the geostationary orbit, laying a solid foundation for subsequent operation. Both Chinese and Algerian parties together witnessed this historic moment in Xi'an Satellite Control Center.
« Last Edit: 12/18/2017 04:02 pm by input~2 »
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Offline input~2

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Quote
This latest technology satellite will allow gathering the favorite TV channels of Algerians on a single satellite, instead of switching between two satellites (Nilesat and Astra)
source: today's ASAL press conference

 

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