CZ-3B - Chinasat (Zhongxing) 2A - May 26, 2012

[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

[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.

[Satori]

This is going to be the second Fenghuo-2?

[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?

[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

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch time confirmed: May 26, 2012 at 15:56 UTC (11:56 pm local)

Source

[Liss]

NOTAM:

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

[input~2]

NOTAM:

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..                      

[Satori]

Looks like this is a second generation FengHuo tactical communications satellite.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch center tourists being bussed to the launch site....

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Oops, I guess the wrong name: it should be Chinasat-2A!

Source

[input~2]

[Satori]

Oops, I guess the wrong name: it should be Chinasat-2A!

Source

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

[Galactic Penguin SST]

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..... 

[Satori]

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?