Beidou-2 I6 - CZ-3A - XSLC - March 29, 2016 (20:11 UTC)

• Beidou-2 I6 - CZ-3A - XSLC - March 29, 2016 (20:11 UTC) by beidou on 19 Mar, 2015 20:36
• This is a thread for the second BeiDou launch in 2016.
• #1 by beidou on 31 Jan, 2016 20:27
• We should more info on this launch available upon a mission success of BeiDou M3-S in Feb 1st.
• #2 by beidou on 01 Feb, 2016 21:00
• Quote from: beidou on 31 Jan, 2016 20:27

  We should more info on this launch available upon a mission success of BeiDou M3-S in Feb 1st.
  

  
  In a post-launch interview, the BeiDou general designer Mr. Yang Changfeng indeed mentioned there would be two more BeiDou satellites launched in 2016 to replenish the current operating regional system. So very likely these two satellites will be similar to those of BeiDou Phase II (launched prior 2012).
• #3 by Satori on 01 Feb, 2016 21:06
• Quote from: beidou on 01 Feb, 2016 21:00

  Quote from: beidou on 31 Jan, 2016 20:27

  We should more info on this launch available upon a mission success of BeiDou M3-S in Feb 1st.
  

  
  In a post-launch interview, the BeiDou general designer Mr. Yang Changfeng indeed mentioned there would be two more BeiDou satellites launched in 2016 to replenish the current operating regional system. So very likely these two satellites will be similar to those of BeiDou Phase II (launched prior 2012).
  

  
  With possibly one going up in March?
• #4 by beidou on 05 Mar, 2016 19:04
• Quote from: Satori on 01 Feb, 2016 21:06

  With possibly one going up in March?
  

  
  Chinese source disclosed this launch will be in late March and it will be the first Chinese launch in the year of Monkey.
• #5 by Galactic Penguin SST on 06 Mar, 2016 03:44
• I have checked the source and nowhere does the "March 28" date comes up. Where does that come from?
  
  (it seems that even its status as the next Chinese launch is uncertain too )
• #6 by wsl2005 on 07 Mar, 2016 09:10
• The third flight is now preparing for the launch site, the upcoming launch of the Beidou navigation satellite.
  http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2016/3/339891.shtm
• #7 by beidou on 25 Mar, 2016 20:10
• Can anyone update on this mission? thanks.
• #8 by Satori on 25 Mar, 2016 20:17
• Quote from: beidou on 25 Mar, 2016 20:10

  Can anyone update on this mission? thanks.
  

  
  Still waiting for the NOTAM's for this launch. Nothing until the moment.
• #9 by Galactic Penguin SST on 28 Mar, 2016 08:35
• Finally this launch crops up in the NOTAM notices:
  
  A0562/16 (Issued for ZPKM ZGZU) - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:
  N241651E1060551-N243523E1054832-N242448E1053503-N240617E1055222
  BACK TO START.
  VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 29 MAR 19:54 2016 UNTIL 29 MAR 20:30 2016.
  CREATED: 28 MAR 07:56 2016
  
  A0563/16 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:
  N175950E1115821-N183810E1112643-N181111E1105107-N173257E1112248
  BACK TO START.
  VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 29 MAR 19:55 2016 UNTIL 29 MAR 20:41 2016.
  CREATED: 28 MAR 07:57 2016
  
  A0564/16 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:
  N160601E1133236-N163603E1130831-N160923E1123303-N153925E1125710
  BACK TO START.
  VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 29 MAR 19:55 2016 UNTIL 29 MAR 20:35 2016.
  CREATED: 28 MAR 07:58 2016
  
• #10 by input~2 on 28 Mar, 2016 15:33
• We have a NOTAM for CZ-3B 2nd stage (Southernmost area) which is not so common!
  The other 2 are for boosters and fairing.

  ---

  
• #11 by Galactic Penguin SST on 29 Mar, 2016 02:13
• Quote from: input~2 on 28 Mar, 2016 15:33

  We have a NOTAM for CZ-3B 2nd stage (Southernmost area) which is not so common!
  The other 2 are for boosters and fairing.
  

  
  One thing I would like to ask: could this be a CZ-3A/C launch after all? Because someone on the Chinese forums calculated the orbital planes of the BDS system's passes, and it looks like that this one might be heading for inclined GSO instead of the lower MEO. Since this one is supposed to be one of the back-up satellites from the older generation, could a CZ-3A be enough for 1 satellite?
• #12 by russianhalo117 on 29 Mar, 2016 02:24
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 29 Mar, 2016 02:13

  Quote from: input~2 on 28 Mar, 2016 15:33

  We have a NOTAM for CZ-3B 2nd stage (Southernmost area) which is not so common!
  The other 2 are for boosters and fairing.
  

  
  One thing I would like to ask: could this be a CZ-3A/C launch after all? Because someone on the Chinese forums calculated the orbital planes of the BDS system's passes, and it looks like that this one might be heading for inclined GSO instead of the lower MEO. Since this one is supposed to be one of the back-up satellites from the older generation, could a CZ-3A be enough for 1 satellite?
  

  Here are the results compiled from the launch logs:
  
  BDS-1 Compass Test Sats A-D: CZ-3A Only
  
  BDS-2 Compass-G: CZ-3C Only
  BDS-2 Compass-I: CZ-3A Only
  BDS-2 Compass-M: CZ-3A (Single) and CZ-3B (Pairs)
  
  BDS-3 Compass-G: CZ-3B (Pairs) and CZ-3C (Single) (Expected based available data)
  BDS-3 Compass-I: CZ-3B (Pairs) and CZ-3C (Single)
  BDS-3 Compass-M: CZ-3B (Pairs) and CZ-3C (Single)
  
  See here for my source Go to say 2006 and start there: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30673.0
  http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=15441.0
  http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=5060.0
• #13 by Satori on 29 Mar, 2016 11:33
• But, we still can have a IGSO bird launched by a CZ-3A?
• #14 by input~2 on 29 Mar, 2016 11:59
• Quote from: Satori on 29 Mar, 2016 11:33

  But, we still can have a IGSO bird launched by a CZ-3A?
  

  Yes, we can!
  
  NOTAMed areas seem identical to those for CZ-3A/IGSO4
  So I believe this will be a CZ-3A/IGSO6 launch
   

  ---

  

  
• #15 by Galactic Penguin SST on 29 Mar, 2016 12:42
• Quote from: Satori on 29 Mar, 2016 11:33

  But, we still can have a IGSO bird launched by a CZ-3A?
  

  
  That's why I think the Chinese isn't doing a good enough job for BDS - it's hard to even know what satellites are functioning and what plans are there to expand it, unlike the other 3 GNSS! And it's supposed to be the Chinese spaceflight product that everyone will use (just like the only Russian spaceflight program I made use of is GLONASS)..... 
  
  Still I'm not convinced that there are more than one CZ-3A in work - let see if more clues come in within these hours.
• #16 by input~2 on 29 Mar, 2016 16:29
• Expect launch codename to be 07-71
• #17 by Chris Bergin on 29 Mar, 2016 19:00
• Should be an hour away for this one based on the 8pm UTC time.
• #18 by input~2 on 29 Mar, 2016 20:30
• News could take a few hours to come by...
• #19 by Satori on 29 Mar, 2016 21:30
• A video was posted showing a launch from Xichang using a CZ-3A: http://www.weibo.com/5743819045/DoAg5604e
  
  Launch time: 20:10UTC.
  
  Not sure if the launch was today.