Is this possible in April?
Quote from: beidou on 04/17/2018 08:51 pmIs this possible in April?spaceflightfans.cn says "April" now !
Quote from: Alter Sachse on 04/17/2018 09:15 pmQuote from: beidou on 04/17/2018 08:51 pmIs this possible in April?spaceflightfans.cn says "April" now !Moved to June
Per insider reports (on site!) this launch will be on June 20 at "around noon local time" (early morning GMT).Source
Note that it seems that while there is indeed a launch from Xichang on June 20 - the nature of the payload is now in doubt. Per two different insiders:1. CAST makes the payloads for at least the next few launches out of Xichang.2. The next launch from there isn't a 3rd generation BDS satellite launch nor a CZ-3B launch.The obvious assumption is that the next might be launching BDS 2-I7 on a CZ-3A (CALT reported on May 31 that they are shipping a CZ-3A & CZ-3B in early June) - except that the launch process cycle would then seems to be too tight (<=19 days when the usual process is at least 24). So who knows, there might be something not yet known flying on June 20...... Another report: Contradictory to earlier reports, ChinaSat 6C isn't launching till next year.EDIT: Local tour operators claim that this is a BDS launch from pad 3. Maybe the launch is for BDS-2 G8 (?) on a CZ-3C?
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 06/09/2018 03:26 amNote that it seems that while there is indeed a launch from Xichang on June 20 - the nature of the payload is now in doubt. Per two different insiders:1. CAST makes the payloads for at least the next few launches out of Xichang.2. The next launch from there isn't a 3rd generation BDS satellite launch nor a CZ-3B launch.The obvious assumption is that the next might be launching BDS 2-I7 on a CZ-3A (CALT reported on May 31 that they are shipping a CZ-3A & CZ-3B in early June) - except that the launch process cycle would then seems to be too tight (<=19 days when the usual process is at least 24). So who knows, there might be something not yet known flying on June 20...... Another report: Contradictory to earlier reports, ChinaSat 6C isn't launching till next year.EDIT: Local tour operators claim that this is a BDS launch from pad 3. Maybe the launch is for BDS-2 G8 (?) on a CZ-3C?In another twist it seems that the consensus has swayed back for this to be the next BDS 3rd generation satellites launch (M5&M6) - with a new launch date of June 23 at around noon local time.
Perhaps this will be the next Xichang launch after all, on June 23?Cross-post:Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 06/15/2018 01:59 amQuote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 06/09/2018 03:26 amNote that it seems that while there is indeed a launch from Xichang on June 20 - the nature of the payload is now in doubt. Per two different insiders:1. CAST makes the payloads for at least the next few launches out of Xichang.2. The next launch from there isn't a 3rd generation BDS satellite launch nor a CZ-3B launch.The obvious assumption is that the next might be launching BDS 2-I7 on a CZ-3A (CALT reported on May 31 that they are shipping a CZ-3A & CZ-3B in early June) - except that the launch process cycle would then seems to be too tight (<=19 days when the usual process is at least 24). So who knows, there might be something not yet known flying on June 20...... Another report: Contradictory to earlier reports, ChinaSat 6C isn't launching till next year.EDIT: Local tour operators claim that this is a BDS launch from pad 3. Maybe the launch is for BDS-2 G8 (?) on a CZ-3C?In another twist it seems that the consensus has swayed back for this to be the next BDS 3rd generation satellites launch (M5&M6) - with a new launch date of June 23 at around noon local time.
9ifly Chinese space forum is giving July 25 as the launch date for this mission.
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 06/06/2018 04:54 amPer insider reports (on site!) this launch will be on June 20 at "around noon local time" (early morning GMT).SourceLaunch time to the Plane B is ~20:20 UT (eventually Plane C ~04:18 UT).
Spaceflightfans.cn is giving July 28 (TBC) as the launch date for this mission.
From 9ifly Chinese space forum...<image>