Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 - SES-9 - SLC-40 - March 4, 2016 - UPDATES (Read 399494 times)

catdlr · « **Reply #460 on:** 03/05/2016 05:45 am »

Launch Pad Camera: SpaceX Falcon 9 Blasts Off With SES-9 On Fifth Try

Published on Mar 4, 2016
Launch Pad Camera: SpaceX Falcon 9 Blasts Off With SES-9 On Fifth Try

©2016 Matthew Travis / Zero-G News

FinalFrontier · « **Reply #461 on:** 03/05/2016 06:06 am »

Congratulations to SpaceX on yet another successful launch campaign in the face of extreme technical challenge and adversity! This further provides more flight rationale for the use of densified super-cold propellants as well as proving the new FT architecture on its first super high energy flight uphill. Was a small miracle stage one made it back to the ASDS at a slow velocity at all, a landing was not something we were expecting.

Can't wait for the next flight and am looking to getting one of the new Falcon 9 FT 1st stages back.

LastStarFighter · « **Reply #462 on:** 03/05/2016 06:26 am »

I think the first TLE has been posted:

334.3km x 40684.0km @ 27.96 degrees

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #463 on:** 03/05/2016 06:30 am »

I must add my congratulations on another fantastic launch and amazing landing attempt (given the flight profile).

SpaceX and SES make quite a team. Sorry SES no recovered first stage to re-use this time, but with a couple more goes later this year, I'm confident you'll get your chance!

input~2 · « **Reply #464 on:** 03/05/2016 07:32 am »

2 objects have been cataloged:
2016-013A/41380 in 334 x 40648 km x 27.96°
2016-013B/41381 in 323 x 40654 km x 27.95°

guckyfan · « **Reply #465 on:** 03/05/2016 07:40 am »

SES confirms successful deployment of their satellite on twitter.

https://twitter.com/ses_satellites?lang=de

Quote

#SES9 was successfully launched on @SpaceX's Falcon 9!!!! http://www.ses.com/4233325/news/2016/22036454 …

jacqmans · « **Reply #466 on:** 03/05/2016 08:09 am »

SES-9 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED ON SPACEX’S FALCON 9

LUXEMBOURG/CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, 4 March 2016 -- SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announced today that its SES-9 satellite was successfully launched into space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. SES-9 roared into space at 6:35 pm East Coast Time (00:35 am on 5 March Central European Time) and separated from the second stage of the SpaceX rocket 31 minutes later.

SES-9 uses a chemical bi-propellant thruster to conduct major post-launch manoeuvers, completing its journey to its orbit at 36,000 kilometers above the Equator with an electric propulsion system. The on-orbit maneuvering throughout the 15 year nominal lifetime of the satellite will be done entirely by electric propulsion. SES-9 is planned to commence its services in the third quarter of this year.

SES-9 is SES’s largest satellite to serve the Asia-Pacific region. It weighed 5.3 tonnes at the launch and has 57 high-power Ku-band transponders – equivalent to 81x36 MHz transponders’ It thus provides significant expansion capacity to serve the buoyant and fast-growing video, enterprise, mobility and government sectors across Northeast Asia, South Asia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. SES-9 will be co-located with another SES satellite, SES-7, at the prime orbital location of 108.2 degrees East, and will replace the NSS-11 spacecraft at that position. SES-9 was built by Boeing Satellite Systems International.

“SES-9 is an important building block in our strategy to grow in dynamic regions and four prime sectors -- video, enterprise, mobility and government,” said Martin Halliwell, Chief Technology Officer of SES. “Co-located with SES-7, the new satellite will reach 22 million TV homes and is designed to deliver high-performing connectivity to homes, enterprises and institutions across Asia. With its dedicated mobility beams, it will help us to capture new opportunities in the buoyant markets for maritime and aeronautical connectivity. The successful launch of SES-9 also takes us an important step further in our excellent relationship with SpaceX as a launch provider of growing importance, and is further proof of SpaceX’s professionalism and impressive performance. I congratulate the SpaceX and SES teams, who together have done an excellent job.”

ugordan · « **Reply #467 on:** 03/05/2016 08:56 am »

Quote from: meekGee on 03/05/2016 03:35 am

Since I was starting to get suspicious, I eliminated my watching the webcast from the list of possible causes for missing the landing.

Don't be ridiculous. Everyone knows that the ASDS landing bingo is to blame for the failed landings.

CorvusCorax · « **Reply #468 on:** 03/05/2016 09:40 am »

Huuge congrats to SpaceX and SES on an awesome launch!!! The fact that the heavy sat is in a perfect orbit, and the S1 still made it through reentry and to the droneship basically means SpaceX made it over the bar picture perfectly, even with the heaviest of weights - now they only need to "stand the landing" - which they will

Say, did anyone notice the explosion/fireball and subsequent fire half way up the transporter-erector - I think at the S2 umbilical - shortly after the F9 cleared the tower? It's very visible in both the "remote camera" videos posted.

Is that normal/expected?

Edit: added video

Jarnis · « **Reply #469 on:** 03/05/2016 10:34 am »

Quote from: CorvusCorax on 03/05/2016 09:40 am

Huuge congrats to SpaceX and SES on an awesome launch!!! The fact that the heavy sat is in a perfect orbit, and the S1 still made it through reentry and to the droneship basically means SpaceX made it over the bar picture perfectly, even with the heaviest of weights - now they only need to "stand the landing" - which they will

Say, did anyone notice the explosion/fireball and subsequent fire half way up the transporter-erector - I think at the S2 umbilical - shortly after the F9 cleared the tower? It's very visible in both the "remote camera" videos posted.

Is that normal/expected?

Not unheard of, tho I'd assume they seek ways to avoid that. Probably not an easy problem to solve. Merlin 1Ds really do a number on the T/E.

TomTX · « **Reply #470 on:** 03/05/2016 11:34 am »

Congratulations SpaceX and SES!

Just imagine how much fire there will be from a Heavy on the T/E, and the much wider variety of angles!

the_other_Doug · « **Reply #471 on:** 03/05/2016 12:47 pm »

Of the various attempts to get this particular bird off the ground, they kept moving it onto and off of days that I work. And I work up until 7pm U.S. Central time, so the launch times have been happening while I'm at work. (Of course, I work at home, so my main computer system is just down a flight of stairs from my home work office.) For this finally successful attempt, I of course had to work, so I had to work my breaks so that I could run downstairs and pull up the webcast with literally one minute left in the count.

Caught the launch, though.

So -- congrats to SpaceX and SES for a partnership that got the spacecraft to a good super-synch insertion. Way to go, guys! Also, I'm looking forward to seeing some video of stage one arriving at the ASDS just to end its life in kabloomy goodness...

jacqmans · « **Reply #472 on:** 03/05/2016 01:04 pm »

45th Space Wing successfully launches Falcon 9 SES-9

by 45th Space Wing Public Affairs

3/4/2016 - CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- The U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing supported the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the SES-9 communications satellite March 4, 2016, at 6:35 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 40 here.

SES-9 was built by Boeing Satellite Systems and is designed to operate for 15 years in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite increases SES's global video capabilities in Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines, and is also designed to deliver reliable data connectivity across Asia while providing support to growing mobility communications needs across the Indian Ocean, according to an SES release.

A combined team of military, government civilians and contractors from across the 45th Space Wing provided support to the mission, including weather forecasts, launch and range operations, security, safety and public affairs. The wing also provided its vast network of radar, telemetry, and communications instrumentation to facilitate a safe launch on the Eastern Range.

Col. Shawn Fairhurst, 45th SW vice commander, who served as the Launch Decision Authority for this mission, lauded the efforts of all those involved in making this launch a success.

"Congratulations to SpaceX and the entire team who ensured the success of this launch. We truly have a tremendous space team here on the Space Coast, and it's my honor to be a part of this mission supporting the commercial space industry," he said. "Assured access to space is a team sport and here on the Eastern Range, we continue to prove we are the 'World's Premier Gateway to Space.'"

woods170 · « **Reply #473 on:** 03/05/2016 03:25 pm »

Quote from: CorvusCorax on 03/05/2016 09:40 am

Huuge congrats to SpaceX and SES on an awesome launch!!! The fact that the heavy sat is in a perfect orbit, and the S1 still made it through reentry and to the droneship basically means SpaceX made it over the bar picture perfectly, even with the heaviest of weights - now they only need to "stand the landing" - which they will

Say, did anyone notice the explosion/fireball and subsequent fire half way up the transporter-erector - I think at the S2 umbilical - shortly after the F9 cleared the tower? It's very visible in both the "remote camera" videos posted.

Is that normal/expected?

Edit: added video

This phenomenon has been seen on at least three earlier launches. It poses no threat to the structural integrity of the TE. The materials/hardware destroyed are/is easily replaced. Should pose no problem for the CRS-8 attempt later this month.