>Zenit wins this one I think, with Spaceway 1 (6080kg). >
Yeah, most two stage kerolox LVs tend to be used for LEO/SSO campaigns. A more relevant comparison would be to something like Zenit-3SL/SLB, for the title of best GTO performance for a Kerolox rocket. Zenit wins this one I think, with Spaceway 1 (6080kg). It also wins while weighing almost a hundred tonnes less. And wins the LEO performance record too (in the two stage SB variant), with Phobos Grunt. F9 could possibly match that performance in expendable mode, even with one less stage. I don't think that SpaceX will fly something like this anytime soon though (the idea is to send those payloads to FH, rather than flying F9 expendable missions).
F9 has a 6100kg comsat on the schedule next month, and a 6000kg comsat the month after that. Will be interesting to see what orbits they end up in.
Quote from: gongora on 03/20/2017 12:32 pmF9 has a 6100kg comsat on the schedule next month, and a 6000kg comsat the month after that. Will be interesting to see what orbits they end up in.More interesting will be what stage recovery options they chose.
Quote from: Dante80 on 03/20/2017 01:48 amYeah, most two stage kerolox LVs tend to be used for LEO/SSO campaigns. A more relevant comparison would be to something like Zenit-3SL/SLB, for the title of best GTO performance for a Kerolox rocket. Zenit wins this one I think, with Spaceway 1 (6080kg). It also wins while weighing almost a hundred tonnes less. And wins the LEO performance record too (in the two stage SB variant), with Phobos Grunt. F9 could possibly match that performance in expendable mode, even with one less stage. I don't think that SpaceX will fly something like this anytime soon though (the idea is to send those payloads to FH, rather than flying F9 expendable missions). F9 has a 6100kg comsat on the schedule next month, and a 6000kg comsat the month after that. Will be interesting to see what orbits they end up in.
Echostar 23, launched by @SpaceX Falcon 9 on Mar 16, has begun orbit raising. Now in 21814 x 35874 km x 2.5 deg orbit, on the way to GEO
The EchoStar-23 satellite was launched in March into EchoStar’s new 45 degrees West orbital slot, won at a Brazilian slot and frequency auction. But for the moment, it appears to be all dressed up with nowhere to go.It’s Ku-band payload has been formally placed into service under Brazilian regulatory rules, but to date EchoStar has found no partners for a direct-to-home television or other service.“Things have been very challenging down there,” Dugan said.EchoStar-23 also has an S- and Ka-band payload but these frequencies are caught up in a discussion of whether Brazil has priority rights to operate them at this orbital location since other satellites are ahead of Brazil at the International Telecommunication Union.