@Thales_Alenia_SFollow Follow @Thales_Alenia_SMorePassenger #Bangabandhu Satellite-1 is requested for boarding soon! Next Thursday on Antonov flight 007 to #Florida ! Live from #Nice #airport, impressive #Antonov !
@Thales_Alenia_SPassenger #Bangabandhu Satellite-1 requested for boarding soon! Next Thursday on #Antonov to #Florida ! Live from #Nice #airport, impressive Antonov!
Hello @AmericaSpace . The satellite will leave Thales Alenia Space's plant in Cannes on March 28th. It will take-off, from Nice Airport onboard the Antonov, on March 29th (between 6 and 8 AM local time). After a layover in Boston on March 29th, it will arrive in Cape on March 30.
SFN Launch Schedule, updated March 26:NET April 24
Heads up @BostonLogan! This Antonov An-124 is coming your way. Glad I finally caught this bird inflight (Even if it was from across the Promenade). #UR82072
#Bangabandhu Satellite-1 has just arrived at Cape Canaveral. First ever #communications #satellite of #Bangladesh to be orbited by a @SpaceX #Falcon9 #launch #vehicle http://thls.co/j0mh30jeAuU @AirlinesAntonov @AntonovCompany @ThalesAsia @leonardo_live @telespazio @thalesemploi
In that photo from the Thales Alenia Space tweet, what's the purpose of those balloons? Are they holding up some of the weight of the deployed antenna?
If all that is full size it doesn't seem like it would fit under that acoustic ceiling.
Quote from: intrepidpursuit on 03/30/2018 09:34 pmIf all that is full size it doesn't seem like it would fit under that acoustic ceiling.It looks to me like that acoustic ceiling is about 3 stories up.
You made me look closer. It appears they have a tension meter attached to the balloon string and the balloon string is attached to the antenna. Really strange.
Quote from: Kansan52 on 03/30/2018 09:50 pmYou made me look closer. It appears they have a tension meter attached to the balloon string and the balloon string is attached to the antenna. Really strange.My immediate thought is that they’re doing a sort of deployment test (or just need to open up the antenna for some reason), and since the hinge and structure is designed for microgravity, they needed a way to easily counteract gravity. Balloons are an easy way to accomplish a given, constant off-loading force on a part that can move without a complicated rigging system.I’m pretty sure the balloons are for gravity off-loading.
SpaceX to Debut Falcon 9 Block 5 in AprilCAPE CANAVERAL - The upgraded Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket SpaceX needs to taxi NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) and deliver U.S. national security spacecraft into orbit will make its first flight on a commercial mission for Bangladesh, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell says.http://m.aviationweek.com/space/spacex-debut-falcon-9-block-5-april
‘US company SpaceX who will put Bangabandhu-1 into orbit has sent us a letter confirming the new schedule,’ he said.
Now NET May 4 per a vast number of articles with comments from project director Md Mesbahuzzaman. Quote‘US company SpaceX who will put Bangabandhu-1 into orbit has sent us a letter confirming the new schedule,’ he said.Additionally, this article states that the satellite's mass is 3.7t (presumably metric).