Author Topic: CZ-2C/SMA - Shijian 9A/B - Taiyuan - October 14, 2012 (Read 41850 times)

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #20 on:** 10/14/2012 12:48 am »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 10/13/2012 08:20 pm

Are we closing in on a GMT for T-0?

Looks like finally - spectators are being bussed to the launch viewing area right now...

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #21 on:** 10/14/2012 01:04 am »

Launch time should be around 02:00 UTC - those poor guys/girls have to stand in freezing weather for an hour to wait for launch....

Edit:The wait could be even longer - launch now expected after 03:00 UTC...

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #22 on:** 10/14/2012 04:18 am »

Probably launched at 03:14 UTC. Given the ~1 hour launch time, S/C separation should be coming up now...

Edit: another source claims a launch time of 03:35 UTC.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #23 on:** 10/14/2012 04:31 am »

BTW Forget about any non-official launch photos - no one dares to pick out their cameras in a military base...

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #24 on:** 10/14/2012 04:36 am »

Launch success!

The launch time is 03:25:05 UTC.

http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/10-14/4245950.shtml

http://www.calt.com/ZiXunZhongXin/ZhongYaoXinWen/Detail/?ContentId=7337

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #25 on:** 10/14/2012 05:00 am »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 10/14/2012 04:36 am

Launch success! The launch time is 03:25:05 UTC.

http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/10-14/4245950.shtml

http://www.calt.com/ZiXunZhongXin/ZhongYaoXinWen/Detail/?ContentId=7337

Note that neither article mentioned an upper stage (only mentioned that the satellites were placed into the correct transfer orbit). So is it up to the satellites to raise the perigee themselves?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #26 on:** 10/14/2012 05:20 am »

Rui's article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/long-march-2c-shijian-9-tech-demonstrator-satellite-duo/

input~2 · « **Reply #27 on:** 10/14/2012 05:29 am »

Thanks Galactic for your report!

A short video of the launch:
http://news.cntv.cn/china/20121014/101715.shtml

input~2 · « **Reply #28 on:** 10/14/2012 05:37 am »

A first object has been catalogued by USSTRATCOM
38860/ 12056A in 255.0 x 674.2 km x 97.97°
(epoch Oct 14, 0450UTC)

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #29 on:** 10/14/2012 05:39 am »

Quote from: input~2 on 10/14/2012 05:37 am

A first object has been catalogued by USSTRATCOM
38860/ 12056A in 255.0 x 674.2 km x 97.97°
(epoch Oct 14, 0450UTC)

Given that the orbit is measured 1.5 hours after launch, this seems to argue against the use of a solid upper stage... $:-\$ (maybe the satellites are to raise their orbits by themselves using chemical/ion thrusters?)

input~2 · « **Reply #30 on:** 10/14/2012 05:50 am »

Picture source:http://www.chinanews.com/tp/hd2011/2012/10-14/139430.shtml

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #31 on:** 10/14/2012 05:58 am »

Some launch photos: http://www.chinanews.com/tp/hd2011/2012/10-14/139430.shtml (note that "SMA" is written on the rocket!)

input~2 · « **Reply #32 on:** 10/14/2012 06:35 am »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 10/14/2012 05:58 am

(note that "SMA" is written on the rocket!)

Good catch!

input~2 · « **Reply #33 on:** 10/14/2012 09:07 am »

Quote from: input~2 on 10/14/2012 05:37 am

A first object has been catalogued by USSTRATCOM
38860/ 2012-056A in 255.0 x 674.2 km x 97.97°
(epoch Oct 14, 0450UTC)

USSTRATCOM has now catalogued 5 more objects including apparently both satellites in their planned orbits

38861/ 2012-056B in 623.6 x 648.4 km x 97.99°

38862/ 2012-056C in 622.7 x 651.4 km x 98.00°

38863/ 2012-056D in 623.7 x 654.2 km x 97.99°

38864/ 2012-056E in 290.7 x 623.6 km x 97.96°

38866/ 2012-056G in 258.4 x 886.9 km x 98.21°

So Objects B, C and D could be the two spacecraft and the ~~adaptor~~ (edit) SMA.
The SMA seems to have performed OK!

Satori · « **Reply #34 on:** 10/14/2012 10:49 am »

Exact launch time 0325:05.010UTC.

Satori · « **Reply #35 on:** 10/14/2012 10:51 am »

From our Chinese friends 9ifly space forum http://www.9ifly.cn/thread-14-12-1.html

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #36 on:** 10/14/2012 10:53 am »

Xinhua News photos: (hopefully I can get better resolution ones later today)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-10/14/c_123820221.htm

Satori · « **Reply #37 on:** 10/14/2012 10:58 am »

Launch video at http://www.chinanews.com/shipin/cnstv/2012/10-14/news106711.shtml

input~2 · « **Reply #38 on:** 10/14/2012 11:24 am »

A slightly longer video at
http://news.cntv.cn/china/20121014/102302.shtml

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #39 on:** 10/14/2012 12:58 pm »

BTW it looks like the satellites may also test formation flying and possibly even rendezvous techniques, as the official description of the missions of the two satellites are:
1. To test new satellite components for improving the life time, accuracy, performance and relibility of Chinese satellites, as well as key components build in China for the first time.
2. To perform tests in satellite formation flying and relative measurements and communication between satellites (= rendezvous techniques)