BeiDou-3 I2-S, CZ-3B, XSLC, September 29, 2015 (23:13 UTC)

• #20 by Chris Bergin on 29 Sep, 2015 23:46
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 29 Sep, 2015 23:44

  Quote from: Chris Bergin on 29 Sep, 2015 23:29

  Rui's article!
  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/09/chinese-long-march-3b-lofts-next-beidou-3-satellite/
  

  
  If you want bystander photos, take a look at this. (there are also others seeing the max-Q contrail too)
  
  Liftoff seems to be closer to 23:15 UTC according to local reports.
  

  
  No use for the article, but at least that's confirmation
• #21 by Galactic Penguin SST on 30 Sep, 2015 00:12
• Just saw some new photos that confirms that this launch is the first one to use the modified pad 3 at XSLC for LM-3B/C launches, and the first one from there since January 2012. 
• #22 by Chris Bergin on 30 Sep, 2015 00:30
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 30 Sep, 2015 00:12

  Just saw some new photos that confirms that this launch is the first one to use the modified pad 3 at XSLC for LM-3B/C launches, and the first one from there since January 2012. 
  

  
  Copy that.
• #23 by russianhalo117 on 30 Sep, 2015 00:40
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 30 Sep, 2015 00:12

  Just saw some new photos that confirms that this launch is the first one to use the modified pad 3 at XSLC for LM-3B/C launches, and the first one from there since January 2012. 
  

  do you mind posting some soon. Thanks
• #24 by Galactic Penguin SST on 30 Sep, 2015 00:45
• And wow Xinhua has already confirmed launch success! Launch time was indeed at 23:13 UTC. 
  
  (so the YZ-1 upper stage was not used this time)
  
  Apparently this is the first BDS navsat to fly with a hydrogen maser clock.
• #25 by baldusi on 30 Sep, 2015 01:29
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 30 Sep, 2015 00:45

  And wow Xinhua has already confirmed launch success! Launch time was indeed at 23:13 UTC. 
  
  (so the YZ-1 upper stage was not used this time)
  
  Apparently this is the first BDS navsat to fly with a hydrogen maser clock.
  

  Does that means that the satellite will do the circularization itself? SEP maybe?
• #26 by Galactic Penguin SST on 30 Sep, 2015 01:53

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• #27 by Galactic Penguin SST on 30 Sep, 2015 01:54
• Quote from: baldusi on 30 Sep, 2015 01:29

  Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 30 Sep, 2015 00:45

  And wow Xinhua has already confirmed launch success! Launch time was indeed at 23:13 UTC. 
  
  (so the YZ-1 upper stage was not used this time)
  
  Apparently this is the first BDS navsat to fly with a hydrogen maser clock.
  

  Does that means that the satellite will do the circularization itself? SEP maybe?
  

  
  Yes, and I think it's more likely to be conventional chemical propulsion. Hence the need of a CZ-3B to launch just 1 single satellite.
• #28 by input~2 on 30 Sep, 2015 03:40
• China launches 20th Beidou navigation satellite
  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-09/30/c_134673630.htm
  
  
  
• #29 by input~2 on 30 Sep, 2015 03:55
• Short launch video
  http://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10598/fc23e87770b3451584ed26483da9dcf7
  
  IGSO orbit confirmed
  http://mil.huanqiu.com/china/2015-09/7673821.html
• #30 by input~2 on 30 Sep, 2015 06:28
• Precise launch time was 23:13:04.225 UTC
  Another launch video: http://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10336/a39369e2b8774ff39d55c0f658f8585f

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• #31 by input~2 on 30 Sep, 2015 09:16
• A first object has been catalogued by USSTRATCOM
  40939/2015-053B in 220 x 37052 km x 55.01° (maybe CZ-3B 3rd stage)
• #32 by input~2 on 30 Sep, 2015 14:51
• and here comes the satellite:
  40938/2015-053A in 192 x 35827 km x 55.04°
• #33 by input~2 on 30 Sep, 2015 16:05
• First stage debris fell on a car in Debao county, Guangxi province.
  Apparently no casualty!

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• #34 by input~2 on 30 Sep, 2015 16:14
• A slightly longer launch video:
  http://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10616/1a2dc624334f4a5eb3a4e4849915b812
  
  and confirmation of launch code number as "07-65" as shown below

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• #35 by Satori on 10 Oct, 2015 09:59
• Assuming this is a recent picture from launcher integration at Xichang, can this help to clarify the "Beidou-2" or "Beidou-3" designation?

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• #36 by Galactic Penguin SST on 10 Oct, 2015 10:27
• Quote from: Satori on 10 Oct, 2015 09:59

  Assuming this is a recent picture from launcher integration at Xichang, can this help to clarify the "Beidou-2" or "Beidou-3" designation?
  

  
  Good catch! The words are "Beidou-2 Phase II GEO/IGSO satellite container"