Atlas V 531 - SES-20 & 21 - Canaveral SLC-41 - October 4, 2022 (21:36 UTC)

[Chris Bergin]

 SES-20 and 21


SES Selects United Launch Alliance to Launch Two C-Band Satellites to accelerate C-Band clearing
U.S.-based United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket will launch satellites into orbit as part of SES’s contribution to facilitate 5G across America

 

Luxembourg, 5 August 2020 – SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions, has selected U.S.-based United Launch Alliance (ULA) to launch two C-band satellites. This launch is part of the company’s accelerated C-band clearing plan to meet the Federal Communications Commission’s objectives to roll out 5G services in the United States. ULA’s Atlas V rocket will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida in 2022 and carry the two stacked satellites.

 

Earlier this year, SES contracted with American companies Northrop Grumman and the Boeing Company to deliver four C-band satellites. These satellites will enable SES to clear 280MHz of mid-band spectrum for 5G use while seamlessly migrating SES’s existing C-band customers and ensuring the continued delivery of digital television to nearly 120 million American TV homes and other critical data services. ULA will launch the two C-band satellites manufactured by Boeing.

 

SES is investing in America through its C-band transition plan and its work with large and small businesses across the country and its selection of Atlas V, an American launch vehicle launched from the American soil underlines that commitment.

 

“Clearing mid-band spectrum expeditiously while protecting cable neighborhoods across America is a huge undertaking and one that requires partners that can deliver mission success and schedule assurance,” said Steve Collar, CEO at SES. “We are thrilled to be working with ULA again and partnering to meet the FCC’s ambitious timeline for the accelerated clearing of C-band spectrum.”

 

“We are pleased SES selected ULA and our proven Atlas V for this important commercial launch service,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO. “Atlas V is known for its unmatched level of schedule certainty and reliability and this launch is critical to the timely clearing of C-band spectrum, empowering America’s accelerated implementation of 5G.  ULA’s legacy of performance, precision and mission design flexibility allow us to deliver a tailored launch service that minimizes orbit raising time and perfectly meet our customer’s requirements. We are thrilled to provide this optimized launch solution to SES for this crucial launch.”

[Galactic Penguin SST]

I guess it will be either the Northrop Grumman GeoStar-3 pair - SES-18 & 19, or the Boeing 702SP (all electric thrusters) pair - SES-20 & 21, not a mixture of both?
 
These seems to be pretty small satellites not unlike the 2 pairs of AsiaSat/Eutelsat Boeing 702SP comsats launched on Falcon 9 several years ago, so maybe they will add up to only around 4.5 - 5 tonnes range total? A 401 might be enough for that.

[Bean Kenobi]

I guess it will be either the Northrop Grumman GeoStar-3 pair - SES-18 & 19, or the Boeing 702SP (all electric thrusters) pair - SES-20 & 21, not a mixture of both?
 
These seems to be pretty small satellites not unlike the 2 pairs of AsiaSat/Eutelsat Boeing 702SP comsats launched on Falcon 9 several years ago, so maybe they will add up to only around 4.5 - 5 tonnes range total? A 401 might be enough for that.

SES press release about SpaceX contract says that SpaceX will launch Northrop Grumman satellites (SES 18 and SES 19), so ULA will launch Boeing satellites (SES 20 and SES 21).

https://www.ses.com/press-release/ses-selects-spacex-launch-new-c-band-satellites

" SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch two C-band satellites built by Northrop Grumman "


EDIT : and press release in 1st post says " ULA will launch the two C-band satellites manufactured by Boeing. "

[Phillipsturtles]

I guess it will be either the Northrop Grumman GeoStar-3 pair - SES-18 & 19, or the Boeing 702SP (all electric thrusters) pair - SES-20 & 21, not a mixture of both?
 
These seems to be pretty small satellites not unlike the 2 pairs of AsiaSat/Eutelsat Boeing 702SP comsats launched on Falcon 9 several years ago, so maybe they will add up to only around 4.5 - 5 tonnes range total? A 401 might be enough for that.

Based off what Tory said about getting the satellites closer to their final orbit, I'm going to guess they'll fly on a 541 or 551 and do a direct GEO (or close to) trajectory.

[arachnitect]

I was hoping we'd finally see ULA's DSS (SYLDA equivalent), but I assume these satellites are self-stacking.

[hartspace]

I was hoping we'd finally see ULA's DSS (SYLDA equivalent), but I assume these satellites are self-stacking.

Yes, the Boeing 702SP satellites are designed to mate to each other and fly as a pair.

[russianhalo117]

I was hoping we'd finally see ULA's DSS (SYLDA equivalent), but I assume these satellites are self-stacking.

Yes, the Boeing 702SP satellites are designed to mate to each other and fly as a pair.

Actually BSS-702 family can fly I'm multiples such as triplets, quadruplets and can be a combination of any version of the 702 family. This capability has not been demonstrated in flight in numbers greater than two.

[Phillipsturtles]

From SFN: "Jessica Rye, a ULA spokesperson, said the SES 20 and 21 satellites will launch on the “531” variant of the Atlas 5 rocket with a 5-meter payload fairing and three strap-on solid rocket boosters."

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/08/05/ula-spacex-win-contracts-to-launch-satellites-for-ses-in-2022/

[Zed_Noir]

From SFN: "Jessica Rye, a ULA spokesperson, said the SES 20 and 21 satellites will launch on the “531” variant of the Atlas 5 rocket with a 5-meter payload fairing and three strap-on solid rocket boosters."

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/08/05/ula-spacex-win-contracts-to-launch-satellites-for-ses-in-2022/

Presuming that the SRBs for this launch will be GEM-63?

[GWR64]

https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-RPL-20210812-00102/12615286

end of operational life satellite mass
SES-20 : 1369 kg
SES-21 : 1638 kg
Satellite maximum Xenon loading: 130 kg
Have I understood that correctly?
XIPS is efficient!!!

[ZachS09]

https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-RPL-20210812-00102/12615286

end of operational life satellite mass
SES-20 : 1369 kg
SES-21 : 1638 kg
Satellite maximum Xenon loading: 130 kg
Have I understood that correctly?
XIPS is efficient!!!

Is the xenon prop loading plus the EOL mass the official launch mass per satellite?

[GWR64]

https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-RPL-20210812-00102/12615286

end of operational life satellite mass
SES-20 : 1369 kg
SES-21 : 1638 kg
Satellite maximum Xenon loading: 130 kg
Have I understood that correctly?
XIPS is efficient!!!

Is the xenon prop loading plus the EOL mass the official launch mass per satellite?

without "official",  past research of such FCC data tell me, around this range
The Atlas-V 531 can lift this mass (+ payload adapter) close to the GEO.
(One more booster and it would be enough for the GEO)
According to my primitive calculations, max.130 kg of xenon are more than enough and and should be sufficient for a very very long satellite life.

Earlier, under different signs, this launch would have been a grateful order for ILS with Proton-M.

[zubenelgenubi]

Belated cross-post:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006250/en/SES%C2%A0Q1-2021-Results
[May 6]

Future satellite launches

Satellite                                          Region                        Application                         Launch Date

SES-17                                           Americas     Fixed Data, Mobility, Government            Q4 2021(1)
O3b mPOWER (satellites 1-3)            Global        Fixed Data, Mobility, Government            Q4 2021(1)
O3b mPOWER (satellites 4-6)            Global        Fixed Data, Mobility, Government            Q1 2022
O3b mPOWER (satellites 7-9)            Global        Fixed Data, Mobility, Government            H2 2022
SES-18 & SES-19                        North America   Video (US C-band accelerated clearing)    H2 2022
SES-20 & SES-21                        North America   Video (US C-band accelerated clearing)    H2 2022
O3b mPOWER (satellites 10-11)        Global        Fixed Data, Mobility, Government            H2 2024

1) From Q3 2021, however the change is not expected to result in a significant change in operational service date (OSD)

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; launch remains H2 2022:

Cross-post:

https://www.ses.com/sites/default/files/2022-02/SES%20Full%20Year%202021%20Results_0.pdf

[Josh_from_Canada]

Launch is planned for August

https://twitter.com/steviecSES/status/1506386012322377731

[zubenelgenubi]

The launch of SES-20 and 21 is scheduled for Q3 2022.

https://www.ses.com/sites/default/files/2022-05/SES%20Q1%202022%20Results.pdf

[zubenelgenubi]

SFN SpaceX mission this week to kick off busy launch calendar for SES, June 28

Sources said that mission is currently set for launch in late August or early September.

Also from the article: the Centaur capabilities will be used to provide direct injection to GEO for these all-electric propelled satellites.


Atlas V Eastern Range [SLC-41]:
June 30                       WFOV/USSF-12
July 31                        SBIRS GEO-6
late Aug/early Sept   SES-20 & 21

[GWR64]

C-Band Q2 2022 Report:

The 30-day launch slot for SES-20 and SES-21 has been confirmed by ULA for September 7 to October 7, 2022.

[June 30]

[gongora]

There was an FCC filing for ground station support of LEOP starting Sep. 15

[zubenelgenubi]

Eastern Range SLC-41:
August 4            SBIRS GEO-6
NET Sept 7 15  SES-20 & 21
October launch opportunity
November launch opportunity
December 8     CFT
December         Peregrine
Q4                      USSF-51