Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : June 4, 2018 : Updates  (Read 81286 times)

Offline gongora

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UPDATES thread for SES-12 mission.

NSF Threads for SES-12 : Discussion / Updates / L2 May-June / Party
NSF Articles for SES-12:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=SES-12

Successful launch on June 4, 2018 at 12:45am EDT (0445 UTC) on Falcon 9 (reused booster 1040.2) from SLC-40, early in the 0029-0429L launch window.  Booster was expended.

Other SpaceX resources on NASASpaceflight:
   SpaceX News Articles (Recent)  /   SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews)
   SpaceX Dragon Articles  /  SpaceX Missions Section (with Launch Manifest and info on past and future missions)
   L2 SpaceX Section




SES-12 is a very large all-electric satellite with 19kw of electric power combining both Ku band widebeam transponders for DTH broadcasting and Ku/Ka band spot beams for HTS broadband applications.  It has a a total of 68 Ku band and 8 Ka band transponders.  The HTS payload will use 70 Ku band and 11 Ka band spot beams to provide 14GHz of capacity that can be configured with a Digital Transparent Processor (DTP), which provides increased flexibility as well as increased anti-jamming capability.

I've seen several masses given for SES-12, the most recent being 5400kg.  That's huge for a sat with all electric propulsion.
« Last Edit: 06/04/2018 05:19 am by gongora »

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 24, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #1 on: 05/12/2018 03:20 am »
Launching May 24, 2018 at 12:29am EDT (0429 UTC) on Falcon 9 (reused booster, maybe 1040.2?) from SLC-40.  Booster will be expended.

This article by Chris Gebhardt says it is B1040.2.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/04/spacexs-may-manifest-takes-shape-block-5-debut/

"One day after Iridium NEXT-6/GRACE-FO’s launch, SpaceX will be back in action in Florida with the Static Fire of core B1040.2."

"This time, the core will loft the SES-12 communications satellite for the SES corporation of Luxembourg to service the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region."

"Following a successful Static Fire, core B1040.2 and its second stage will be mated with its payload and prepared for launch on NET 24 May 2018 in a 58 minute window extending from 00:29-01:27 EDT (04:29-05:27 UTC) from SLC-40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station."
« Last Edit: 05/12/2018 03:30 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline crandles57

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 24, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #2 on: 05/13/2018 11:54 pm »
Date in doubt?

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

Did say May 24th, now says "end of May TBD"
« Last Edit: 05/13/2018 11:55 pm by crandles57 »

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #3 on: 05/16/2018 03:41 pm »
[Spaceflight Now] New target dates set for next two Falcon 9 launches
Quote
On that mission, which an SES official said is currently scheduled for no earlier than May 31, SpaceX will haul the Airbus-built SES 12 communications satellite toward a perch in geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) over the equator.

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #4 on: 05/16/2018 04:14 pm »
[Spaceflight Now] New target dates set for next two Falcon 9 launches
Quote
On that mission, which an SES official said is currently scheduled for no earlier than May 31, SpaceX will haul the Airbus-built SES 12 communications satellite toward a perch in geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) over the equator.

Let's see what happens here because the Range is supposed to be closed from 29 May - 8 June for scheduled down period maintenance. 

---
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/04/spacexs-may-manifest-takes-shape-block-5-debut/

"The Eastern Range in Florida will close on 29 May for a scheduled 11 day period of maintenance and upkeep.  These planned Range down periods are communicated well in advanced to all Range customers and are vital to ensuring reliable Range functionality.

The Range will reopen on 9 June for normal launch operations."
« Last Edit: 05/16/2018 04:14 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #5 on: 05/23/2018 06:17 pm »
Quote
#SpaceX will be conducting a Static Fire Test of their Falcon 9 rocket at SLC-40 on CCAFS on Thursday, May 24th. The 7-second run of the Falcon 9 engines is scheduled to occur within a 6-hour test window, currently scheduled for 1100 - 1700 Eastern Time. 🚀

https://twitter.com/astrohardin/status/999332943867924483

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #6 on: 05/23/2018 06:20 pm »
Quote
Attached: Launch Hazard Area for May 31 SpaceX #SES12 mission from LC 40. Roughly 1.5-hour window for Block 4 #Falcon9 opens at 0029 ET (0429 UTC). Expendable, so no landing attempt.

https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/999347104249196544

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #7 on: 05/24/2018 11:20 am »
Quote
SpaceX has positioned a Falcon 9 rocket on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral for a hold-down engine firing today. The launcher is set to blast off May 31 with the SES 12 communications satellite. spaceflightnow.com/2018/05/24/fal…

https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/999605448792788993

Offline Chris Bergin

Still a while away from the firing.

Meanwhile, ARTICLE!
Falcon 9 being prepared for static fire test ahead of the SES-12 mission
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/05/falcon-9-static-fire-ses-12/

- by Ian Atkinson

(Waiting for close-ups of this booster. Lead photo used is CRS-14's Sooty at SLC-40 - taken by Chris Gebhardt.
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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #9 on: 05/24/2018 03:28 pm »
Quote
Today’s static fire test of a Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral is targeted for 3pm EDT (1900 GMT). It’s a key test ahead of launch May 31 with the SES 12 communications satellite. https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/05/24/falcon-9-ses-12-launch-preps/

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/999669357159464960

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #10 on: 05/24/2018 06:34 pm »
Quote
The new target time for the Falcon 9 rocket's static fire test today at Cape Canaveral is 4:30pm EDT (2030 GMT). spaceflightnow.com/2018/05/24/fal…

https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/999703990500651008

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #11 on: 05/24/2018 07:25 pm »
Quote
The static fire test of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral, in preparation for a launch next week, is now expected some time this evening. spaceflightnow.com/2018/05/24/fal…

https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/999728537434116096

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #12 on: 05/24/2018 10:48 pm »
Quote from: spaceflightnow.com
The static fire test is now expected around 9 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. EDT tonight, and the range has agreed to extend the test window to 10 p.m. EDT (0200 GMT).

Offline Chris Bergin

Venting observed. Via SFN, not me. All my pals have clocked off and gone home! ;D
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Offline Chris Bergin

Bill's working overtime:

William Harwood
@cbs_spacenews

F9/SES: We're standing by for a presumed Falcon 9 first stage hot fire test at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station; the vehicle is perched atop pad 40, loaded with propellant and venting as usual in the later stages of a countdown
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Offline Chris Bergin

Done!

Via Bill:
F9/SES: Hot fire test conducted at 9:30pm EDT; we'll now wait for an update from SpaceX to let us know when they'll be targeting launch for the SES-12 communications satellite (believed to be no earlier than 4:29am on 5/31)

-

Now for the SpaceX tweet, as per usual, that we need to confirm a good test via the Quick Look Review.
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Offline Chris Bergin

SpaceX:

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting May 31 launch of SES-12 from Pad 40 in Florida.
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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #17 on: 05/25/2018 04:57 am »
SpaceX - SES12 - Static Fire Test 05-24-2018

USLaunchReport
Published on May 24, 2018

Pad 40 had very low lighting. Large flame came from Merlin Engines.




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Offline Raul

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : NET May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #18 on: 05/26/2018 12:45 pm »
M1465 SES-12 Launch Hazard Areas based on NOTAMs.

Location of Area B (orange) for booster splashdown/fairing landing is now unusually northern compared to other GTO missions.

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SES-12 : May 31, 2018 : Updates
« Reply #19 on: 05/27/2018 07:15 pm »
L-3 launch weather forecast only 30% GO:

Quote
Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 70%
Primary concern(s): Thick Cloud Layers Rule
   
Delay day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 60%
Primary concern(s): Thick Cloud Layers Rule
« Last Edit: 05/27/2018 07:35 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

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