Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD  (Read 314325 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

This is now the ASIASAT-6 Discussion thread.


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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/spacex-launch-two-asiasat-satellites-falcon-9-2014/

A bit later than the pressers, but everyone's copying and pasting those on.

Bit of research into this one, made interesting due to AsiaSat 1's fun history with the shuttles! :)



Other threads for Asiasat 6:
POSTPONED: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - LAUNCH ATTEMPT 1
SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - LAUNCH ATTEMPT 2
The ASIASAT-6, Gravity 0 Party Thread
« Last Edit: 08/09/2017 12:21 am by gongora »
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Offline Garrett

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #1 on: 02/08/2012 04:26 pm »
Interesting article Chris.

From the article:
Quote
“We are pleased to have SpaceX as our launch partner for the two upcoming missions. We look forward to the timely and successful launches of AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8, ..."
(bold highlighting mine)

Am I reading too much between the lines or is that a direct message to SpaceX that they won't tolerate delays of any sort?
« Last Edit: 02/08/2012 04:26 pm by Garrett »
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Offline sammie

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #2 on: 02/08/2012 04:43 pm »
who are the back up launchers? Has SpaceX signed an agreement with any of the other companies to swap payloads? I can imagine their one pad being a tad busy
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Offline Danderman

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #3 on: 02/08/2012 05:26 pm »
http://blogs.forbes.com/alexknapp/

"SpaceX announced today that it’s signed a deal with AsiaSat to launch two of its communications satellites in the first half of 2014. The satellites will be launched using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

“SpaceX is proud to be the choice of AsiaSat, a pioneer in advancing satellite communications in Asia,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Technology Officer in the press release.  “We are producing the most advanced launch vehicles in the world, and the international launch market has responded–commercial launches now represent over 60 percent of our upcoming missions.”

The fact that commercial launches are now such a large majority of SpaceX’s portfolio is, I think, a big deal. Between SpaceX’s strides in developing rocket technology, NanoRacks standardizing basic research, and Virgin Galactic hitting the tourist market, I think this is the decade where private space travel is really going to come into its own.

There are a lot of business opportunities in outer space, and I think the people getting in on the ground floor are going to find their investments pay off.
"

Offline ugordan

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #4 on: 02/08/2012 05:32 pm »
Do we have any estimates of the satellite masses? 3500-ish kg?

Offline Prober

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #5 on: 02/08/2012 05:38 pm »
Do we have any estimates of the satellite masses? 3500-ish kg?

This could be very good for Fla.  Is Astrotech going to be used for processing?
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Offline baldusi

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #6 on: 02/08/2012 06:23 pm »
Chris, this is why I love this site. It's so much more than a simple copy & paste. You deserve more credit!

Offline Chris Bergin

Chris, this is why I love this site. It's so much more than a simple copy & paste. You deserve more credit!

Thanks! :)

Press releases are no longer media only, everyone gets to see them via the internet, so you can't go serving your readers by copying and pasting them as articles.

Pressers with quotes are great, as you can write around the quotes, but we've covered two previous AsiaSat launches with ILS and the Shuttle element for the bird that became AsiaSat 1 gave it some good history. Keeps it fresh.
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Offline kevin-rf

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #8 on: 02/08/2012 10:26 pm »
Chris, this is why I love this site. It's so much more than a simple copy & paste. You deserve more credit!

Yeah, Chris's copy and paste skills are a bit below par, instead we end up with well researched articles ::)
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Offline Chris Bergin

Sorry about that! ;D

So, I wonder if we can work out why AsiaSat switched to Falcon 9? Always thought ILS Proton was reasonably cheap.
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Offline Art LeBrun

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #10 on: 02/08/2012 11:40 pm »
Sorry about that! ;D

So, I wonder if we can work out why AsiaSat switched to Falcon 9? Always thought ILS Proton was reasonably cheap.
Maybe to start some competitive bidding downwards?
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Offline Blackjax

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #11 on: 02/09/2012 01:11 am »
Sorry about that! ;D

So, I wonder if we can work out why AsiaSat switched to Falcon 9? Always thought ILS Proton was reasonably cheap.

I do have to wonder if it is at all related to the problems recently in the russian space world, as per this post:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27404.msg859300#msg859300

Offline HammerD

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #12 on: 02/09/2012 01:28 am »
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/spacex-launch-two-asiasat-satellites-falcon-9-2014/

A bit later than the pressers, but everyone's copying and pasting those on.

Bit of research into this one, made interesting due to AsiaSat 1's fun history with the shuttles! :)

Nice article, but I will believe it when I see it launch.  SpaceX's launch schedule is about as slow as watching snails move.

Offline Seer

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #13 on: 02/09/2012 11:27 am »
Yeah I would like to know the mass of satellites too. I've seen the mass of previous asiasats as 3700kg.

As for the reason for the switch from proton. Well the cost is cheaper, Spacex is $60 million, whereas proton is more like $80 million.
The other reason is that russian launches including proton have had problems recently with reliablity.

Offline corrodedNut

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #14 on: 02/09/2012 12:58 pm »
I hope no one minds if I copy-and-paste this relevant tidbit, which has not been reported elsewhere:

"The commercial Falcon 9 missions require the development of the booster's 17-foot-diameter payload fairing... the company expects to fly the nose shroud on a Falcon 9 rocket later this year, according to Kirstin Brost, a SpaceX spokesperson."

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1202/08spacexasiasat/

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #15 on: 02/09/2012 01:24 pm »
It would be nice to see the 5m fairing fly. It is in the critical path for commercial operations.

So the question for another thread is, who first?
« Last Edit: 02/09/2012 01:24 pm by kevin-rf »
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Offline PDJennings

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #16 on: 02/09/2012 01:27 pm »
From what I remember, AsiaSat has always been a bottom feeder when it comes to launch services pricing.  They also have a habit of announcing the contract price.  I don't have the sources handy, but from my notes AsiaSat-5 was poached from Land Launch for $95m (announced Feb 2009) and AsiaSat-7 was $101m (announced Nov 2010).  I wouldn't read too much into the Russian launcher problems of late.  AsiaSat-3 was ILS' first Proton failure, but the customer came right back to ILS for the launch of AsiaSat-3S.  It's all about the price.

Offline ugordan

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #17 on: 02/09/2012 01:44 pm »
So the question for another thread is, who first?

Almost certainly the tentative Cassiope (MDA) launch from VAFB which was bumped up ahead of FH.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #18 on: 02/09/2012 02:33 pm »
They also have a habit of announcing the contract price.

That would be nice to see...
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Offline sammie

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ASIASAT-6 - DISCUSSION THREAD
« Reply #19 on: 02/09/2012 06:35 pm »
About the SpaceX commercial launches. Two launches that were scheduled for the Falcon 9, and were supposed to go to GEO, have diverted to alternative launch providers (HYLAS 1 to Ariane 5 - and - AMOS 4 to Zenit3SLB). The next GEO launches would be either the SES-8 or Thaicom, both scheduled for 2013. So they got another 2 years to prepare for that.

Also they have to use the Falcon 9 for contracts that first were supposed to go on  the Falcon1E (CASSIOPE & the Orbcomm constellation).

I have the idea that the commercial GEO launches becoming a victim of demands for increased attention for Dragon and other projects. I guess a real test will be whether they can indeed support these commercial Comsat in their rather busy COTS schedule.     
« Last Edit: 02/09/2012 06:45 pm by sammie »
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