Inmarsat has triggered an option to purchase a fourth Inmarsat-5 spacecraft – under its existing contract with Boeing Satellite Systems International.The programme schedule from Boeing has a satellite delivery date of mid-2016.The fourth satellite will have a dual strategic role – firstly, as an early available spare in the unlikely event of a launch failure of any of the first three Inmarsat-5 satellites....Boeing will immediately begin construction of the fourth Inmarsat-5 satellite. The total cost of the option and certain related expenditure will be between US$220 million and US$250 million.
The I-5 satellites, based on Boeing’s proven 702HP spacecraft platform, will deliver consistent high-performance download speeds of up to 50Mbps and up to 5Mbps over the uplink from their position in geosynchronous orbit. Their impressive statistics include: The I-5 body – at 6.98 metres (22.9ft), the height of a double decker bus User beams – 89 Ka-band beams generated by two transmit and two receive apertures Spot beams – six steerable spot beams to direct additional capacity where it is needed Solar arrays – a wingspan of 33.8 metres (111ft) Solar panels – five panels of ultra triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells generate 15 kW of power at start of service and 13.8 kW by end of life Station-keeping thrusters – a xenon ion propulsion system (XIPS) handles in-orbit manoeuvring Launch mass – 6,100kg Mission lifespan – 15 years
So Inmarsat 5 F4 really is launching on Falcon, and EuropaSat/HellasSat 3 may move to a different launch vehicle but final decision not made yet.SpaceNews: Inmarsat, juggling two launches, says SpaceX to return to flight in DecemberQuoteInmarsat has three launch contracts with SpaceX. Up to now, it had planned to launch its Inmarsat 5-F4 Ka-band broadband mobile communications satellite on a Falcon 9 in late 2016; an S-band aeronautical-connectivity satellite on a new Falcon Heavy rocket in early 2017; and the first of the Inmarsat-6 satellites after that.QuoteInmarsat has decided to stick with SpaceX for the 5-F4 satellite, but to seek alternatives for the mid-2017 S-band satellite launch.“It’s largely a function of where you are in the manifest,” Pearce said of Inmarsat’s launch reasoning. “With Inmarsat 5 F4, we’re well up in the queue — I think we are number five or six....
Inmarsat has three launch contracts with SpaceX. Up to now, it had planned to launch its Inmarsat 5-F4 Ka-band broadband mobile communications satellite on a Falcon 9 in late 2016; an S-band aeronautical-connectivity satellite on a new Falcon Heavy rocket in early 2017; and the first of the Inmarsat-6 satellites after that.
Inmarsat has decided to stick with SpaceX for the 5-F4 satellite, but to seek alternatives for the mid-2017 S-band satellite launch.“It’s largely a function of where you are in the manifest,” Pearce said of Inmarsat’s launch reasoning. “With Inmarsat 5 F4, we’re well up in the queue — I think we are number five or six....
There was an interesting comment on Reddit by someone who appears to be a SpaceX employee:Reddit comment by /u/SpiiiceQuoteWe have more than one launch on the manifest that is considered expendable, and no recovery will be attempted. This would make a lot of sense for a couple payloads that were originally assumed to be flying on FH (Inmarsat 5 F4, Europasat).
We have more than one launch on the manifest that is considered expendable, and no recovery will be attempted.
Potential change in launch vehicle for "an" Inmarsat payload, consistent with information above. http://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musks-spacex-may-lose-inmarsat-launch-order-1478165008
Quote from: WHAP on 11/04/2016 05:46 pmPotential change in launch vehicle for "an" Inmarsat payload, consistent with information above. http://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musks-spacex-may-lose-inmarsat-launch-order-1478165008The payload that may change launchers is Europasat, not this one.
So is this the launch they just lost to Arianespace due to their delays?
Inmarsat will launch Inmarsat-5 F4, a Global Xpress (GX) satellite, with SpaceX. This launch is planned for H1 2017 and Inmarsat is looking forward to continuing to work with SpaceX going forward.
Quote from: vapour_nudge on 12/09/2016 08:11 amSo is this the launch they just lost to Arianespace due to their delays?Once again, no. This isn't the S-band satellite.
Quote from: gongora on 12/09/2016 02:26 pmQuote from: vapour_nudge on 12/09/2016 08:11 amSo is this the launch they just lost to Arianespace due to their delays?Once again, no. This isn't the S-band satellite.Everyone wants to be like Jim. I realize vapour_nudge didn't ask what it was, but sometimes that's more helpful than saying what it wasn't. According to Aerospace Daily, this was "the Inmarsat S-band/Hellas-Sat 3 telecommunications spacecraft". http://aviationweek.com/awinspace/inmarsat-switches-launch-spacex-arianespaceAlso https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40756.msg1617381#msg1617381
The manifest thread lists this mission as GTO with RTLS. Is that accurate or no?
Quote from: dglow on 01/20/2017 02:32 amThe manifest thread lists this mission as GTO with RTLS. Is that accurate or no?No. I'm betting on expendable for this flight, but we'll see if it ends up being an ASDS landing.
Quote from: gongora on 01/20/2017 02:36 amQuote from: dglow on 01/20/2017 02:32 amThe manifest thread lists this mission as GTO with RTLS. Is that accurate or no?No. I'm betting on expendable for this flight, but we'll see if it ends up being an ASDS landing.We've never seen an expendable Falcon 9 mission since TürkmenÄlem 52E/MonacoSat in April 2015.
We have more than one launch on the manifest that is considered expendable, and no recovery will be attempted....new [cores]!...I'm honestly pretty surprised by that myself.
This is about right. Upcoming expendable F9 launches will skip the legs 'n' fins, for example.
Spiiice, when you said "skip the legs 'n fins", are you saying that SpaceX will remove the legs and fins from the core, or will they leave them on the core while disarmed?
If expendable then there's no need to toss away expensive legs and fins. These things are installed at the launch site, so this step would just be skipped. HOWEVER, it's my strong hope that Block 5 (1.3? Fullest Thrust??) or FH would be available by launch time, thereby not having to go the expendable route. I think it's baked right into SpaceX's very core to not expend (<- see what I did there?)
What does "NET 1H" mean? Oh, is it 'first half'?