4 years ago (Intelsat-14, launched in Nov 09)
Launch date: 30-Mar-2015 (Estimated)Launch site: Baikonur CosmodromeLaunch vehicle: Proton M
Customers worried about Proton-M reliability, SpaceX schedules, and not willing to wait for a slot on Ariane?
Quote from: kevin-rf on 09/09/2013 05:28 pmCustomers worried about Proton-M reliability, SpaceX schedules, and not willing to wait for a slot on Ariane?At 5,400kg of launch mass, it's too heavy for Falcon 9 v1.1.
Quote from: baldusi on 09/09/2013 07:06 pmQuote from: kevin-rf on 09/09/2013 05:28 pmCustomers worried about Proton-M reliability, SpaceX schedules, and not willing to wait for a slot on Ariane?At 5,400kg of launch mass, it's too heavy for Falcon 9 v1.1. It wasn't mentioned in the press release, but doesn't this mass put it on a Atlas V 411? I thought some folks had mentioned that v1.1 was capable of lofting payloads equivalent to a 421 or greater, or was that for LEO?
The satellite itself is a Boeing BSS-702HP, probably one of the highest end satellites around and impossible to launch on non-ITAR safe rockets.
BTW, I get the impression that they mixed up the launch choices in the last page. I understand that F9 doesn't have the capacity for the Boeing birds, and that when they mention Ariane 5 shared they mean Secondary and dedicated they mean primary. That or the Orbital was the MSS and the Boeings are FSS.
Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch: We've cut Atlas 5 prices by >20% in 12 months, and that helped with Mexsat win v. ILS, Sea Launch.
Customers worried about Proton-M reliability