Author Topic: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread  (Read 40554 times)

Offline deltaV

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2159
  • Change in velocity
  • Liked: 621
  • Likes Given: 2138
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #40 on: 11/24/2013 03:45 pm »
I am not a rocket scientist, and am finding this an interesting education on orbital mechanics. So if I understand correctly, the most cost effective maneuvers for SES-8 from the delivered orbit would be burns directly away from earth at perigee to circularize the orbit, and at apogee in a northern or southern direction to change the plane of orbit. The north/south burns would not be directly north or south, but at some optimal off angle, and they would have to be done when the perigee coincides with crossing the equator. Did I get this right? To take this a little farther, I assume it best to do the plane change first so it is an equatorial orbit, is this done in a single burn?

My comment about thrusting away from the center of the Earth was in answer to AJA's question only. AFAIK geosynchronous missions do not make use of burns directed towards or away from the center of the Earth. Even if such a burn were used for circularization it would have to be done when at geosynchronous altitude, not at perigee.

Offline Lars_J

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6160
  • California
  • Liked: 677
  • Likes Given: 195
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #41 on: 11/24/2013 06:37 pm »
I am not a rocket scientist, and am finding this an interesting education on orbital mechanics. So if I understand correctly, the most cost effective maneuvers for SES-8 from the delivered orbit would be burns directly away from earth at perigee to circularize the orbit, and at apogee in a northern or southern direction to change the plane of orbit. The north/south burns would not be directly north or south, but at some optimal off angle, and they would have to be done when the perigee coincides with crossing the equator. Did I get this right? To take this a little farther, I assume it best to do the plane change first so it is an equatorial orbit, is this done in a single burn?

No, the most effective way to circulariize any orbit is always to thrust in your orbital direction (if at apogee) or the reverse of that (if at perigee).

It may seem like a silly suggestion, but the simulation game "Kerbal space program" is a *great* about learning basic orbital mechanics. You get to play with orbits, set new orbits, and the game will indicate the most efficient way to thrust to realize that new orbit. It can be surprising and sometimes counter-intuitive.
(EDIT: here is a quick video that shows how KSP can teach you how thrusting in different directions affects your orbit: youtu.be/_aNlR4-1IrM )
« Last Edit: 11/24/2013 06:55 pm by Lars_J »

Offline Eer

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 625
  • Liked: 469
  • Likes Given: 913
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #42 on: 11/24/2013 09:59 pm »
(EDIT: here is a quick video that shows how KSP can teach you how thrusting in different directions affects your orbit: youtu.be/_aNlR4-1IrM )

Thanks, Lars - I found that very helpful ;-)
From "The Rhetoric of Interstellar Flight", by Paul Gilster, March 10, 2011: We’ll build a future in space one dogged step at a time, and when asked how long humanity will struggle before reaching the stars, we’ll respond, “As long as it takes.”

Offline Nomadd

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8840
  • Lower 48
  • Liked: 60431
  • Likes Given: 1305
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #43 on: 11/24/2013 10:58 pm »
 You can always change direction in the middle of the burn.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

Offline Avron

  • Canadian Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4930
  • Liked: 156
  • Likes Given: 160
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #44 on: 11/24/2013 11:19 pm »
You can always change direction in the middle of the burn.

The burn itself is made to change direction in terms of orbit.. can you change the space craft orientation in mid burn .. yes.. see Apollo 13.. but why?

ooops my bad.. wrong thread...
« Last Edit: 11/24/2013 11:21 pm by Avron »

Offline jacqmans

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21709
  • Houten, The Netherlands
  • Liked: 8562
  • Likes Given: 320
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #45 on: 11/25/2013 03:17 pm »
SES-8 SATELLITE LAUNCH ON BOARD SPACEX/FALCON 9 SET FOR NOVEMBER 25
 
25.11.2013 

Cape Canaveral, Florida, November 25th, 2013 – SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announces that the launch of the SES-8 satellite is slated for November 25th, 2013. The launch window for the maiden launch of an SES satellite on board Falcon 9 stretches from 17:37 - 18:42 EDT (23:37 - 00:42 CET).

SES-8 has been manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation. The satellite features up to 33 Ku-band transponders (36 MHz equivalent). SES-8 will be co-located with NSS-6 at the orbital location of 95 degrees East to provide growth capacity over Asia-Pacific. The spacecraft's high performance beams will support the rapidly growing markets in South Asia and Indo-China, as well as provide expansion capacity for DTH, VSAT and government applications.

In North America, the live broadcast of the launch will be available on the SES-1 satellite at 101 degrees West, 21K, downlink frequency 12120 MHz, vertical polarization, Symbol rate 30.00 MSym/s, FEC 3/4, service ID 1.

In Europe, the broadcast of the launch via ASTRA satellite is available at the orbital position 19.2 degrees East, channel 1.028, downlink frequency 11626,5 MHz, vertical polarization, Symbol rate 22.00 MSym/s, 8PSK,  FEC 2/3, service ID 4400, service name SES 8 Launch.

A webcast is available via www.spacex.com/webcast. The video transmission of the launch of SES-8 will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff.

To listen to a playback of the press call held on Sunday with Elon Musk, CEO and Chief Designer of SpaceX, and Martin Halliwell, CTO of SES, please dial the following number and access code:

US\Canada:  (855) 859-2056
International: (404) 537-3406
Conference ID:   16853657

Please find a press kit on SES-8 here: http://www.ses.com/16395608/spacex-ses-8-launch-kit.
Jacques :-)

Offline Lars_J

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6160
  • California
  • Liked: 677
  • Likes Given: 195
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #46 on: 11/25/2013 05:14 pm »
SES has posted a video on Facebook - SES-8: from concept to reality:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152001440048189

Offline Joffan

For orbital mechanics students etc, the SES plan to get to GSO from LEO is a bi-elliptic transfer, which will never thrust either towards or away from Earth in principle - all burns are along the path of travel for orbit raising, and across the path for inclination change. Probably the major inclination change by SES-8 will be at apogee of the initial high orbit for efficiency, in conjunction with the perigee-raise (a combined burn to do both tasks).


EDIT to fix link... which was working at preview, some BB sofware is just too smart for its own good, grumble...
(thanks kevin)
« Last Edit: 11/27/2013 07:01 pm by Joffan »
Getting through max-Q for humanity becoming fully spacefaring

Offline Robotbeat

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39271
  • Minnesota
  • Liked: 25240
  • Likes Given: 12115
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #48 on: 12/03/2013 10:24 pm »
Spacecraft status?
EDIT: Looks good!
Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes 12s

SES has acquired spacecraft and it is in good health.
« Last Edit: 12/03/2013 10:27 pm by Robotbeat »
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

Offline Joffan

Do we know when the next burn of SES-8 will occur? Tomorrow morning?
« Last Edit: 12/03/2013 11:36 pm by Joffan »
Getting through max-Q for humanity becoming fully spacefaring

Offline jacqmans

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21709
  • Houten, The Netherlands
  • Liked: 8562
  • Likes Given: 320
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #50 on: 12/04/2013 08:35 am »
LAUNCH SUCCESS FOR SES-8 SATELLITE ON BOARD SPACEX/FALCON 9

  03.12.2013 

55th SES satellite to serve Asia

Cape Canaveral, Florida, December 03rd, 2013 – SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announces that the SES-8 satellite was successfully launched into space at 17:41 EST (23:41 CET) from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. A Falcon 9 booster operated by SpaceX successfully injected the SES-8 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit, 31 minutes after lift-off, in what was SES’s maiden use of a SpaceX/Falcon 9 rocket. SES has three more SpaceX/Falcon 9 boosters under contract.

SES-8 was manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation. The satellite features up to 33 Ku-band transponders (36 MHz equivalent). SES-8 is authorized by The Netherlands and will be co-located with NSS-6 at the orbital location of 95 degrees East to provide growth capacity over Asia-Pacific. The spacecraft’s high performance beams will support the rapidly growing markets in South Asia and Indo-China, as well as provide expansion capacity for DTH, VSAT and government applications.

Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES, stated: “SES’s maiden launch on board a Falcon 9 rocket is yet another example of our company’s spirit of innovation and advancement of the commercial space industry. We congratulate the SpaceX team for the success of a challenging launch campaign and our longstanding supplier Orbital for innovating with us in exploring new paths to orbit while delivering a brand-new, state-of-the-art satellite for Asia. Our customers are looking forward to the new capacity, and we are delighted that SES, in collaboration with SpaceX and Orbital, is all set to deliver following today’s successful launch. Through the co-location with NSS-6 at 95 degrees East, SES-8 will not only provide incremental high performance capacity, notably for DTH services, it will also create greater reliability and additional security for customers. The SES-8 satellite will significantly contribute to SES’s growing presence in Asia-Pacific.”

“Today’s successful insertion of the SES-8 satellite marks SpaceX’s first geo-synchronous transfer mission and confirms the Falcon 9 launch vehicle lives up to the industry’s highest performance standards,” said Elon Musk, CEO and Chief Designer of SpaceX.   “As always, SpaceX remains committed to delivering the safest, most reliable launch vehicles on the market today.  We appreciate SES’s early confidence in SpaceX and look forward to launching additional SES satellites in the years to come.”

Note to Editors:

The next SES launch is slated for early next year, when an European Ariane 5 vehicle will orbit the ASTRA 5B satellite from Kourou, French Guyana.
Jacques :-)

Offline corrodedNut

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1542
  • Liked: 216
  • Likes Given: 133
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #51 on: 12/04/2013 03:49 pm »
Do we know when the next burn of SES-8 will occur? Tomorrow morning?

Bump. So five burns over the next two weeks, does anyone have anything more specific?

Offline corrodedNut

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1542
  • Liked: 216
  • Likes Given: 133
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #52 on: 12/05/2013 01:52 pm »
Has this been posted yet? The photos are the same as those previously released, but the narration provides some details:

« Last Edit: 12/05/2013 01:53 pm by corrodedNut »

Offline Chris Bergin

Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Zannanza

  • Member
  • Posts: 39
  • Liked: 9
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #54 on: 12/11/2013 06:01 am »
as per heavens-above.com information, SES-8 orbit has been changed to 35819 x 79805 km, inclination decreased to 1.2°

source
http://www.heavens-above.com/SatInfo.aspx?satid=39460&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=CET&cul=en-GB
« Last Edit: 12/11/2013 06:11 am by Zannanza »

Offline Jarnis

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1313
  • Liked: 830
  • Likes Given: 201
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #55 on: 12/13/2013 09:30 am »
..and

Orbit    35,681 x 45,298 km, 0.5°

Almost there.

http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=39460&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=CET&cul=en-GB

Shows the sat fairly close to the planned area over Asia.

Offline Zannanza

  • Member
  • Posts: 39
  • Liked: 9
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: SES-8 - for launch on F9 v1.1 - Dedicated Spacecraft Thread
« Reply #56 on: 12/21/2013 05:32 am »
35753X35795 km, 0.0960°, probably already settled in its final orbit

Offline corrodedNut

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1542
  • Liked: 216
  • Likes Given: 133

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1