Bon voyage! 🚛20 Eutelsat OneWeb satellites have set off on a road trip across the USA from the @AirbusSpace U.S. Space & Defense factory in Florida over to Vandenberg, California, ahead of our #EutelsatOneWebLaunch20 with @SpaceX – expected no earlier than next month.
The SpaceX dispensers for 8 Oneweb satellites each were stacked.So why 20 and not 24 satellites? And more importantly, why Vandenberg and not Florida? Where the satellites are built.There is probably another payload. Similar to OneWeb/Iridium.
Quote from: GWR64 on 08/24/2024 04:08 pmThe SpaceX dispensers for 8 Oneweb satellites each were stacked.So why 20 and not 24 satellites? And more importantly, why Vandenberg and not Florida? Where the satellites are built.There is probably another payload. Similar to OneWeb/Iridium.Falcon 9 doesn't have to launch from just Florida to polar, sun-synchronous, or near-polar orbits. It can launch from Vandenberg directly down the trajectory toward an 87.9-degree orbit (the OneWeb satellites' orbital inclination) without a dogleg maneuver.
So why 20 and not 24 satellites?
Quote from: ZachS09 on 08/24/2024 04:13 pmQuote from: GWR64 on 08/24/2024 04:08 pmThe SpaceX dispensers for 8 Oneweb satellites each were stacked.So why 20 and not 24 satellites? And more importantly, why Vandenberg and not Florida? Where the satellites are built.There is probably another payload. Similar to OneWeb/Iridium.Falcon 9 doesn't have to launch from just Florida to polar, sun-synchronous, or near-polar orbits. It can launch from Vandenberg directly down the trajectory toward an 87.9-degree orbit (the OneWeb satellites' orbital inclination) without a dogleg maneuver.The Falcon 9 launch from Florida three times with 40 OneWeb sats each time using a dogleg maneuver and was then able to land the first stage on land. So why the long transport to Vandenberg for 20 satellites?
That would be a light load. I don't know of any rideshare candidates offhand but wouldn't be shocked if there was one.
Quote from: gongora on 08/24/2024 02:27 pmThat would be a light load. I don't know of any rideshare candidates offhand but wouldn't be shocked if there was one.I'm "spitballing" this: rideshare with SDA spacecraft(s)? Are there any of those intended for PLEO?
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 08/24/2024 07:29 pmQuote from: gongora on 08/24/2024 02:27 pmThat would be a light load. I don't know of any rideshare candidates offhand but wouldn't be shocked if there was one.I'm "spitballing" this: rideshare with SDA spacecraft(s)? Are there any of those intended for PLEO?Next launch of SDA sats should be Tranche 1 Transport Layer A which was a full set awarded under NSSL Phase 2 so I doubt it would be a rideshare but it was targeting September 2024 last I heard.
Is this new OneWeb launch contract new? I don't think we have heard of Eutelsat planning to launch replenishment satellites this year, never mind with SpaceX...
Quote from: GWR64 on 08/24/2024 04:08 pmSo why 20 and not 24 satellites?Because only 20 Block 1 satellites are left (not counting those stranded at Baikonur). Launching them is likely cheaper than keeping them in storage.Vandenberg has likely been chosen because of available launch slots.
Launch is scheduled for Early-May and will include 15 Gen1 OneWeb satellites, as well as 1 Gen2 prototype.QuoteThe next GSLV will be the last one needed to reach global coverage (36 sats) then we will launch 16 sats early May (15 are Gen1 and 1 is an early demo for Gen2) and we will be left with 20 ground spares to be launched at a later stage.https://twitter.com/M_Ladovaz/status/1634693353936748546
The next GSLV will be the last one needed to reach global coverage (36 sats) then we will launch 16 sats early May (15 are Gen1 and 1 is an early demo for Gen2) and we will be left with 20 ground spares to be launched at a later stage.
A3093/24 NOTAMN Q) FAJO/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/5049S02328E580A) FAJO B) 2409300900 C) 2410060903D) 30 SEP 0900-0933, 01 OCT 0855-0928, 02 OCT 0850-0923, 03 OCT0845-0918, 04 OCT 0840-0913, 05 OCT 0835-0908, 06 OCT 0830-0903E) AREA BOUNDED BY (4251S 02515E, 4243S 02234E, 5948S 02010E, 5956S02405E): SPACEX ONEWEB-4 STAGE 2 ROCKET RE-ENTRY OPS TAKING PLACE.F) SFC G) UNL
First NOTAM is out, launching September 30th in the early morning:QuoteA3093/24 NOTAMN Q) FAJO/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/5049S02328E580A) FAJO B) 2409300900 C) 2410060903D) 30 SEP 0900-0933, 01 OCT 0855-0928, 02 OCT 0850-0923, 03 OCT0845-0918, 04 OCT 0840-0913, 05 OCT 0835-0908, 06 OCT 0830-0903E) AREA BOUNDED BY (4251S 02515E, 4243S 02234E, 5948S 02010E, 5956S02405E): SPACEX ONEWEB-4 STAGE 2 ROCKET RE-ENTRY OPS TAKING PLACE.F) SFC G) UNL
Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 09/24/2024 03:34 pmFirst NOTAM is out, launching September 30th in the early morning: ...B0776/24 NOTAMN ...
First NOTAM is out, launching September 30th in the early morning: ...
NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice.
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 09/24/2024 11:45 pmQuote from: GewoonLukas_ on 09/24/2024 03:34 pmFirst NOTAM is out, launching September 30th in the early morning: ...B0776/24 NOTAMN ...Although the S2 re-entry area makes sense for an SSO launch, I don't know what to make of the booster re-entry area.