Not a super-synchronous GTO. It cut off at 34832 k/hr = 9676 m/s. Add in about 400 m/s (Earth rotation) to get 10076 m/s. compared to the normal GTO speed at this altitude of 10148 m/s. Assuming this is due to inclination reduction, the change in inclination would be about cos-1(10076/10148), or about 6.5 degrees.So I'd expect a GTO orbit something like 300x36000, inclination 21o. If so about 1670 m/s to GEO.
Orbit parameters according to new space-track TLE2018-05-11 21:52:04.21 UTC - 308.49/35549.15km/19.3139°
Quote from: hartspace on 05/11/2018 08:32 pmMaybe it was the lighting, but it seemed like the on-board cameras were providing much-better-than-usual video quality. New cams to go with Block 5, maybe? Loved the drone view of the launch as well. And, as noted above, they probably need to tighten the bracket holding the 1st stage camera. Otherwise, everything looked great so far.I had exactly opposite impression. Quality of camera on stage and barge was abysmal.
Maybe it was the lighting, but it seemed like the on-board cameras were providing much-better-than-usual video quality. New cams to go with Block 5, maybe? Loved the drone view of the launch as well. And, as noted above, they probably need to tighten the bracket holding the 1st stage camera. Otherwise, everything looked great so far.
Can I ask why Bangladesh is having to lease an orbital slot from Russia for this satellite?
Quote from: Mader Levap on 05/11/2018 09:43 pmQuote from: hartspace on 05/11/2018 08:32 pmMaybe it was the lighting, but it seemed like the on-board cameras were providing much-better-than-usual video quality. New cams to go with Block 5, maybe? Loved the drone view of the launch as well. And, as noted above, they probably need to tighten the bracket holding the 1st stage camera. Otherwise, everything looked great so far.I had exactly opposite impression. Quality of camera on stage and barge was abysmal.Similar impression as well. My thoughts are that these were SD cameras instead of HD cameras (maybe to get around the NOAA restrictions my opinion). Was not impressed at all at the clarity and video transmission. I'm sure they will improve.
That thing jumped off the pad noticeably faster than previous F9s, I didn't expect the thrust increase to be that noticeable especially when taking into consideration that more LOX mass was loaded than before and the overall vehicle structure is likely heavier.
I'm presuming the illumination at PL sep was natural sunlight. So the burn should have made a spectacular plume in the evening sky over the South Atlantic. Does anybody have approx. lat/long of the ground track at start and stop of the GTO burn?
Quote from: JimO on 05/11/2018 11:49 pmI'm presuming the illumination at PL sep was natural sunlight. So the burn should have made a spectacular plume in the evening sky over the South Atlantic. Does anybody have approx. lat/long of the ground track at start and stop of the GTO burn?No, it was illuminated from the stage, as far as I can tell. Both the downfacing and upfacing stage 2 cameras now have built in lights.
