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#20 by jg on 18 Jun, 2013 20:03
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Jim,
Here's what the 2009 dated SpaceX's manual says:
Didn't you mention that the integration will happen within the SpaceX facility ? If that takes 4-10 weeks, how can the spacecraft arrive only 2 weeks before the scheduled launch ?
Maybe they mean the spacecraft has to be onsite and ready for integration with the LV 2 weeks before the launch date.
5.4. Payload Integration
While SpaceX does not require the payload to be at the launch site until two weeks prior to launch, the Payload Processing Facility (PPF) will be made available for payload operations for up to 3 weeks prior to launch at each of our sites. Additional time in the processing facility maybe available as a non‐standard service.
They also say later:
As a non‐standard service, SpaceX will help arrange the use of AstroTech facilities near CCAFS for payload processing.
It sure sounds like SpaceX wants the payload in their hands by the launch pad by two weeks before launch, and not more than 3 weeks before launch (or will charge for the privilege). If you need more time than this before launch, you do your work someplace else.
How long it actually takes to launch is a different matter, and probably depends on the company doing the launching. I can't imagine wanting to pay the salary of people launching satellites for any longer than actually necessary, and Musk doesn't seem to want people sitting on their hands from all accounts. But the only launch I've ever been remotely involved in was an experiment on SpaceLab 2 aeons ago, and that was a horse of an entirely different color; certainly integration and test on it was a long, drawn out affair, as I remember. -
#21 by Jim on 18 Jun, 2013 21:27
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Spacex is building facilities on site for commercial spacecraft processing
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#22 by Lar on 18 Jun, 2013 21:59
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This is interesting. I thought I read somewhere where SpaceX stated that they couldn't take more orders as their manifest was full for the next couple of years. Apparently this was incorrect.
Maybe a cancellation backfill?
Agree with the general level of surprise
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#23 by beancounter on 19 Jun, 2013 00:49
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With respect to payload processing and launch lead times, I'd say that this is another unknown with SpaceX since we really don't have any history and don't know the details of how they plan to manage this aspect of their business.
As Jim stated, they're building processing facilities near their pads so this should presumably provide some more efficiencies but how much is open to question. Guess it's more wait and see.
If I might go out on a limb and say that I think where SpaceX is trying to get to is the space industry equivalent of the computer industry plug and play. -
#24 by Chris Bergin on 21 Jun, 2013 20:33
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June 21, 2013
SpaceX Contact:
Christina Ra
[email protected]
SPACEX WILL LAUNCH TURKMENISTAN SATELLITE FOR THALES ALENIA SPACE
Turkmenistan telecommunication satellite will be the country’s first
Hawthorne, CA – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) was awarded a contract with Thales Alenia Space to launch Turkmenistan NSSC to geostationary transfer orbit in late-2014 or early 2015 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
“We appreciate Thales’ confidence in our ability to safely deliver Turkmenistan’s first satellite to orbit,” said Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President and COO. “We are pleased to see the market expand with new entrants, and SpaceX looks forward to leveraging the world’s most reliable and advanced rockets for customers across the globe.”
The satellite will enable Turkmenistan to operate its first National System of Satellite Communications in order to secure and enhance the country’s communication means.
About SpaceX
SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches the world's most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. Today, SpaceX is advancing the boundaries of space technology through its Falcon launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX is a private company owned by management and employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Valor Equity Partners. The company has more than 3,000 employees in California, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Florida. For more information, visit www.spacex.com.
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#25 by Okie_Steve on 22 Jun, 2013 00:06
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commerical spacecraft take 4-10 weeks to prepare for launch and that doesn't include the two weeks with Spacex
Jim, I don't doubt your numbers, but I have a hard time imagining what the heck could take 10 weeks to prepare. Could you share an example or two of the sorts of lengthy things that have to be done?
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#26 by Elmar Moelzer on 22 Jun, 2013 00:50
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So exports to Europe are OK despite ITAR?How come an European built sattelite for Turkmenistan falls under US ITAR?
Does it contain any American hardware?
Yes. -
#27 by joek on 22 Jun, 2013 01:06
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So exports to Europe are OK despite ITAR?How come an European built sattelite for Turkmenistan falls under US ITAR?
Yes.
Does it contain any American hardware?
It depends on what you're exporting, and who if anyone the importer is exporting to (i.e., the end user); in this case: US -> Europe OK; US -> Europe -> China launch NOT OK.
edit: that's China launch, not Turkmenistan. -
#28 by Jim on 22 Jun, 2013 02:05
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commerical spacecraft take 4-10 weeks to prepare for launch and that doesn't include the two weeks with Spacex
Jim, I don't doubt your numbers, but I have a hard time imagining what the heck could take 10 weeks to prepare. Could you share an example or two of the sorts of lengthy things that have to be done?
It depends on amount of testing and assembly required.
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#29 by kevin-rf on 23 Jun, 2013 12:29
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And safe payload fueling also...
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#30 by MTom on 30 Jul, 2014 19:48
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From April 2014:
Turkmen communication satellite will be launched to space at the end of present year. The next report on level of preparedness of “TurkmenAlem 520, E” – first national artificial satellite of Turkmenistan, was received in National space agency at the President of Turkmenistan from French “Thales Alenia Space” company, realizing in accordance with the contract signed between Turkmen government, the development and construction of space device. In accordance with approved schedule the “Thales Alenia Space” company has completed the assembly and installation of the commutation and service modules of communication equipment on satellite platform. At the end of September, to the space agency specialists’ opinion, the device intended for creation of national space communication system, will be assembled and prepared for exploitation at the orbit.
http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/_eng/?id=3434
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#31 by Galactic Penguin SST on 03 Feb, 2015 09:28
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Does anybody know what's going on with this satellite? Apparently the next launch for SpaceX after the dual comsat launch around early March will also be a GTO mission, and this one is the only one that fits the schedule.
It was mentioned to be one of two comsat launches for SpaceX in Q1 2015 as of Nov. 2014, and IIRC someone had saw it in final testing late last year at the TAS satellite facility in Cannes. I have also checked the satellite operator website and they are still saying Q1 2015 (SES, which leased 12 of 38 transponders, listed a TBD launch date).
So, is this flying in late March?
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#32 by deruch on 03 Feb, 2015 10:57
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Does anybody know what's going on with this satellite? Apparently the next launch for SpaceX after the dual comsat launch around early March will also be a GTO mission, and this one is the only one that fits the schedule.
It was mentioned to be one of two comsat launches for SpaceX in Q1 2015 as of Nov. 2014, and IIRC someone had saw it in final testing late last year at the TAS satellite facility in Cannes. I have also checked the satellite operator website and they are still saying Q1 2015 (SES, which leased 12 of 38 transponders, listed a TBD launch date).
So, is this flying in late March?
It also has the benefit of being one of only 2 commercial payloads (non-CRS) on SpaceX's manifest for which they already have an FAA launch license (the other is Orbcomm G2- launch 2). If that FCC license isn't talking about TurkmenSat, what could it be? I can't think of anything on the manifest that would really fit. -
#33 by Norm38 on 06 Feb, 2015 20:25
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No way it's going up in March I think, not with two more missions to do before CRS-5 on April 8. But if Eutelsat and pad abort go off in Q1 as planned, then this could take the May slot which currently looks to be free, between CRS-5 and CRS-6.
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#34 by deruch on 07 Feb, 2015 00:32
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No way it's going up in March I think, not with two more missions to do before CRS-6 on April 8. But if Eutelsat and pad abort go off in Q1 as planned, then this could take the May slot which currently looks to be free, between CRS-6 and CRS-7.
fixed your mission numbering
In thinking about the GTO launch listed in that FCC license, I realized that it was for March 24th out of CCAFS. But currently, according to Salo's Schedule there's a Delta IV launch scheduled for March 25th: GPS IIF SV-9 - Delta IV-M+(4,2) - Canaveral SLC-37B. Hence I don't think they could launch on the 24th as the range needs more time to switch over between types doesn't it? That means it would have to go either a few days earlier or later than the 25th. Earlier isn't so much a problem, just means a short turnaround from Eutelsat (~3 weeks). Later puts a massive crunch on the post-launch turnaround for CRS-6 (<2 weeks). Unlikely in my opinion. -
#35 by Galactic Penguin SST on 09 Feb, 2015 13:28
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Finally we got confirmation from the Turkmenistan government that this is flying in March, i.e. 3rd in lane right now.
Russian source -
#36 by Kabloona on 09 Feb, 2015 20:13
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Finally we got confirmation from the Turkmenistan government that this is flying in March, i.e. 3rd in lane right now.
Russian source
English translation from Google:QuoteIn March of this year is scheduled to launch the first space satellite communication Turkmen "TurkmenAlem" (Turkmen universe).
Deputy Prime Minister Satlykov Satlykov supervising transport and communications, at a cabinet meeting to report on the preparatory work for the launch of the first Turkmen communications satellite.
Speaking about the importance of this launch, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the presence of its own communications satellite will accelerate the development of the country's communication systems, television and other industries.
Recall that initially launch the first Turkmen communications satellites planned in November 2014. At the end of November last year, Turkmenistan has officially announced the launch of transferring the first half of 2015.
Communications satellite "TurkmenAlem", built by the French company "Thales Alenia Space", is expected to bring the American carrier rocket Falcon 9 into geostationary orbit from Earth at a distance of approximately thirty-six thousand kilometers. After placing into Earth orbit communication satellite control will be carried out from the Control Center in the Akhal velayat, as well as backup control center in Dashoguz province (region in the north of Turkmenistan). -
#37 by Norm38 on 10 Feb, 2015 02:31
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I'm hesitant to say anything until after DISCVR launches, but a conference call with China has derailed so....
Looking at what SpaceX is apparently trying to pull off and assuming:
1) DISCOVR launches on 2/10 or 2/11
2) Eutelsat launches on 2/28 or 3/1
3) Pad abort gets off by 3/6.
Then there are just over two weeks in the hangar to prep this flight, to launch on 3/21 or 3/22, to then leave two and a half weeks to 4/8 for CRS-6. A lot of IFs, and no room at all for slips. But hey, why not? It's a plan, until it isn't. -
#38 by Lars-J on 10 Feb, 2015 05:20
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I'm hesitant to say anything until after DISCVR launches, but a conference call with China has derailed so....
Looking at what SpaceX is apparently trying to pull off and assuming:
1) DISCOVR launches on 2/10 or 2/11
2) Eutelsat launches on 2/28 or 3/1
3) Pad abort gets off by 3/6.
Then there are just over two weeks in the hangar to prep this flight, to launch on 3/21 or 3/22, to then leave two and a half weeks to 4/8 for CRS-6. A lot of IFs, and no room at all for slips. But hey, why not? It's a plan, until it isn't.
The pad abort Dragon will likely receive most of its pre-launch processing before it arrives in the horizontal assembly hangar at the pad. Presumably SpaceX will work on it in the building they are leasing for payload processing. (SMAB?) -
#39 by Salo on 14 Feb, 2015 00:03
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The first Turkmen space satellite will orbit the American company on March 30:
http://tass.ru/kosmos/1766979
