Launch as viewed from the spectators viewing site
The satellites are also designated Beidou-14 and Beidou-15.
For Rui, the precise launch time is 19:10:04.179 UTC.
Video:
http://youku.com/v_show/id_XNDUyMDk3ODg0.htmlSome interesting remarks on the development of the navigational system:
1. The last initial series GSO satellite (G6?) will be launched in October.
2. The current 4 MEO satellites occupies slots 7 and 8 on plane A and slots 3 and 4 on plane B (remember that the final constellation will feature 24 MEO satellites on 3 planes, with 8 satellites on each plane, a la GLONASS / Galileo).
3. The current generation of navigation satellites have a lifetime of 8 years. Future models will increase it to 11-12 years.
4. The "5G+5I+4M" initial configuration has the best robustness and economic efficiency of a regional navigation system. The 4 MEO satellites increases the repeat coverage for users: the probability for
PDOP (Position Dilution Of Precision) < 3 is now at 74.89% for more than 23 hours per day, up from 38.55% earlier this year.
5. All atomic clocks on the satellites are now "Made in China".
Launch processing photos:
USSTRATCOM has catalogued 4 objects (at epoch Sept 18, 2251UTC)
2012-050A / 38774 in 227.7 x 21586.1 km x 54.95°
2012-050B / 38775 in 188.3 x 21600.7 km x 54.97°
2012-050C / 38776 in 195.4 x 21616.8 km x 54.98°
2012-050D / 38777 in 195.8 x 21584.8 km x 54.99°
Report on success of population protection from booster debris in Jieting township, Guangxi province
(
source in Chinese)
http://www.spacechina.com/n25/n144/n206/n214/c286283/content.htmlThe rocket that flew last week has several improvements over the one that flew in April:
1. Better thermal insulation over the instrument bay
2. More reliable third stage engine
3. Improvements in torque control over the different stages
It was also mentioned that the launch was delayed (from August) due to problems with the satellites' Earth horizon sensors.
According to USSTRATCOM both spacecraft are now in near circular orbits
Object A in 21462 x 21591 km x 55.0° (RAAN: 232.04° epoch Sept 28, 1555UTC)
Object B in 21477 x 21574 km x 55.1° (RAAN: 231.56° epoch Sept 28, 0639UTC)
USSTRATCOM has now identified the 4 objects as:
38774/2012-050A BEIDOU M5
38775/2012-050B BEIDOU M6
38776/2012-050C CZ-3B R/B (ie 3rd stage)
38777/2012-050D CZ-3B DEB (ie adaptor)
The Stratcom catalog numbers were reassigned on Sep 28.
Catalog Before Sep 28 After Sep 28
38774 Beidou 14 Beidou 14
38775 CZ-3 rocket Beidou 15
38776 Adapter CZ-3 rocket
38777 Beidou 15 Adapter
so as usual, use caution when using early TLE sets from this launch.
