Author Topic: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012  (Read 47484 times)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Not sure if the picture below is from the last two weeks (today?), but if true that shows the rocket has already been stacked. This might confirm the words of a launch processing team member, which said in his blog that they are doing "strenuous work" on today and tomorrow. If that's the case that the rocket was stacked today, expect the launch to be around May 28/29 or so.

Sources: http://www.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=9130&pid=194776&fromuid=19646
http://www.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=8057&pid=194703&fromuid=19646
« Last Edit: 05/26/2012 12:40 pm by Galactic Penguin SST »
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Another rumor points to launch next Tuesday (May 22).

Source


Edit: this rumor assumes that the pictures below shows that the satellite has been transferred to the launch pad. But I'm not sure.
« Last Edit: 05/15/2012 05:51 am by Galactic Penguin SST »
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Offline Satori

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 1B (?) - May / June 2012
« Reply #2 on: 05/15/2012 11:20 am »
This is going to be the second Fenghuo-2?

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

This is going to be the second Fenghuo-2?

I doubt we'll know until it launches.... which shouldn't be long by now, as the commemorative covers for this launch are now for sale:http://bbs.941jy.com/read-htm-tid-64334.html .

Next week maybe?
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

This is going to be the second Fenghuo-2?

I doubt we'll know until it launches.... which shouldn't be long by now, as the commemorative covers for this launch are now for sale:http://bbs.941jy.com/read-htm-tid-64334.html .

Next week maybe?

Someone posted the trip plans for a team of teenagers that will get a chance of watching this launch, and it seems that the launch is scheduled on May 25 or 26 (probably again at around 1600 GMT), although it states that "plans are subjected to changes".

Source
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 1B (?) - May 26, 2012
« Reply #5 on: 05/24/2012 02:52 am »
Launch time confirmed: May 26, 2012 at 15:56 UTC (11:56 pm local)

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 1B (?) - May 26, 2012
« Reply #6 on: 05/24/2012 09:07 am »
NOTAM:
Quote
A0532/12 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY N260808E1142921-N261444E1140013-N255857E1135553-N255223E1142456, BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-UNL.ALL ACFT ARE PROHIBITED TO FLY INTO THE AREA. SFC - UNL, 26 MAY 15:55 2012 UNTIL 26 MAY 16:39 2012. CREATED: 24 MAY 08:45 2012
This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

Offline input~2

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 1B (?) - May 26, 2012
« Reply #7 on: 05/24/2012 11:39 am »
NOTAM:
Quote
A0532/12 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY N260808E1142921-N261444E1140013-N255857E1135553-N255223E1142456, BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-UNL.ALL ACFT ARE PROHIBITED TO FLY INTO THE AREA. SFC - UNL, 26 MAY 15:55 2012 UNTIL 26 MAY 16:39 2012. CREATED: 24 MAY 08:45 2012
This is the usual NOTAM for CZ-3B fairing drop zone.
We are still missing the NOTAM for the boosters drop zone..                      

Offline Satori

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 1B (?) - May 26, 2012
« Reply #8 on: 05/24/2012 06:04 pm »
Looks like this is a second generation FengHuo tactical communications satellite.

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 1B (?) - May 26, 2012
« Reply #9 on: 05/26/2012 12:28 pm »
Launch center tourists being bussed to the launch site....
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #10 on: 05/26/2012 12:40 pm »
Oops, I guess the wrong name: it should be Chinasat-2A!

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Offline input~2

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #11 on: 05/26/2012 12:43 pm »

Offline Satori

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #12 on: 05/26/2012 12:43 pm »
Oops, I guess the wrong name: it should be Chinasat-2A!

Source

Any clue about the type of satellite (Fenghuo or Shentong)?

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #13 on: 05/26/2012 12:45 pm »
Oops, I guess the wrong name: it should be Chinasat-2A!

Source

Any clue about the type of satellite (Fenghuo or Shentong)?

Probably we'll know after it launches.....  ;)
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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #14 on: 05/26/2012 12:47 pm »
Oops, I guess the wrong name: it should be Chinasat-2A!

Source

Any clue about the type of satellite (Fenghuo or Shentong)?

Probably we'll know after it launches.....  ;)

DFH-4?

Offline input~2

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #15 on: 05/26/2012 12:53 pm »
If Chinasat-1A is Fenghuo-2, Chinasat-2A could be Shentong-2
« Last Edit: 05/26/2012 02:16 pm by input~2 »

Offline input~2

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #16 on: 05/26/2012 01:25 pm »

Offline input~2

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Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #17 on: 05/26/2012 02:30 pm »
« Last Edit: 05/26/2012 02:35 pm by input~2 »

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #18 on: 05/26/2012 03:15 pm »
If Chinasat-1A is Fenghuo-2, Chinasat-2A could be Shentong-2

Here's a clue: last time ZX-1A was described as a satellite that "looks like it's holding a sword and a shield" (possibly with a UHF and a dish antenna), but apparently this is not the case of our guest today.
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012
« Reply #19 on: 05/26/2012 03:43 pm »
Looks like they are using the 4.2 m diameter fairing again....
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