SpaceX Falcon 9 : Türksat 5A : January 7/8, 2021

[Jansen]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/spacex-ready-for-25th-falcon9-of-year/

Before the end of the year, SpaceX also aims to launch the Turksat-5A telecommunication satellite from SLC-40 on B1060.4 as the final launch of the year. SpaceX is currently planning a 30 December date for the launch. If both missions launch this year, SpaceX will end 2020 with 27 flights under its belt.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/spacex-ready-for-25th-falcon9-of-year/

Before the end of the year, SpaceX also aims to launch the Turksat-5A telecommunication satellite from SLC-40 on B1060.4 as the final launch of the year. SpaceX is currently planning a 30 December date for the launch. If both missions launch this year, SpaceX will end 2020 with 27 flights under its belt.

Member: I am still extremely skeptical that this launch will happen on or before December 31.
AFAweK, the satellite is still stuck in France, with no ride to Florida.
Commercial geo-comm satellites typically need around 4 weeks of processing on-site before they are ready for integration with the LV.
We are less than 4 weeks from New Year's Day.
Did our article authors consider this before penning the article?

Moderator:  Therefore, I will not change the thread title at this time.  And none of the moderators that work this sub-forum regularly have chosen to do so.

EDIT: The above read too harshly, and aimed at other members, to some.  Such was not meant.

[scr00chy]

Ben Cooper now says January TBD.

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

[Jansen]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/spacex-ready-for-25th-falcon9-of-year/

Before the end of the year, SpaceX also aims to launch the Turksat-5A telecommunication satellite from SLC-40 on B1060.4 as the final launch of the year. SpaceX is currently planning a 30 December date for the launch. If both missions launch this year, SpaceX will end 2020 with 27 flights under its belt.

Member: I am still extremely skeptical that this launch will happen on or before December 31.
AFAweK, the satellite is still stuck in France, with no ride to Florida.
Commercial geo-comm satellites typically need around 4 weeks of processing on-site before they are ready for integration with the LV.
We are less than 4 weeks from New Year's Day.
Did our article authors consider this before penning the article?

Moderator:  Therefore, I will not change the thread title at this time.  And none of the moderators that work this sub-forum regularly have chosen to do so.

I have no issue with that. I’m just posting data because I find it interesting. People can make up their own minds.

The Turkish articles seem to indicate Turksat 5A is already in Florida. I’m more curious about how the holidays will affect payload processing in the PPF which usually takes 28-30 days. Note that the  launch is supposed to be the day before New Year’s Eve.

[russianhalo117]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/spacex-ready-for-25th-falcon9-of-year/

Before the end of the year, SpaceX also aims to launch the Turksat-5A telecommunication satellite from SLC-40 on B1060.4 as the final launch of the year. SpaceX is currently planning a 30 December date for the launch. If both missions launch this year, SpaceX will end 2020 with 27 flights under its belt.

Member: I am still extremely skeptical that this launch will happen on or before December 31.
AFAweK, the satellite is still stuck in France, with no ride to Florida.
Commercial geo-comm satellites typically need around 4 weeks of processing on-site before they are ready for integration with the LV.
We are less than 4 weeks from New Year's Day.
Did our article authors consider this before penning the article?

Moderator:  Therefore, I will not change the thread title at this time.  And none of the moderators that work this sub-forum regularly have chosen to do so.

I have no issue with that. I’m just posting data because I find it interesting. People can make up their own minds.

The Turkish articles seem to indicate Turksat 5A is already in Florida. I’m more curious about how the holidays will affect payload processing in the PPF which usually takes 28-30 days. Note that the  launch is supposed to be the day before New Year’s Eve.

The government and government controlled media have a habit of positive pomp and circumstance and if the sat is indeed still in France will ignore that until the originally scheduled day of launch and then state its postponed to their citizens.

[zubenelgenubi]

The government and government controlled media have a habit of positive pomp and circumstance and if the sat is indeed still in France will ignore that until the originally scheduled day of launch and then state its postponed to their citizens.

Educated guess: If the Turkish government appeared to make a "promise" to their citizens/subjects that launch will occur in 2020, then they may be stalling to admit it has been postponed until the last possible moment.

Further educated guess: When December 30/31 comes, will the Turkish Powers That Be blame SpaceX and/or the United States for the delay?

Mark your calendars!  Back to regular launch news.

[gongora]

An Antonov went from Toulouse and landed at the Cape this morning, probably this satellite.

[Bubbinski]

How long would it take for Turksat to be ready to launch once it’s at the Cape?

[gongora]

How long would it take for Turksat to be ready to launch once it’s at the Cape?

Nominally about a month from arrival to launch, but I'm sure there's some wiggle room in there.

[Bubbinski]

Ah ok thanks. That helps me to set expectations, I would suspect it becomes a late January launch based on that. We'll see what happens.

[Jansen]

Ah ok thanks. That helps me to set expectations, I would suspect it becomes a late January launch based on that. We'll see what happens.

I’m expecting ~January 12-15 if it arrived yesterday morning.

[Jansen]

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/turksat-5a-satellite-set-to-secure-turkeys-orbital-rights-airbus/2075998

Türksat 5A satellite to secure Turkey's orbital rights, Airbus official says

[TrueBlueWitt]

https://www.facebook.com/649365789009323/posts/748030202476214/

Is this it being shipped to the cape? Mass number looks crazy.

[Jansen]

https://www.facebook.com/649365789009323/posts/748030202476214/

Is this it being shipped to the cape? Mass number looks crazy.

The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.

There’s nothing there.

[zubenelgenubi]

State of play for the new year on the Space Coast:

Scheduled:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

2021
January 8 7 TBD 5 Early January? or NET mid-January December 31, 2020 - Turksat 5A - Falcon 9-104 (B1060.4 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 01:28 7-05:28 9 01:00
(GTO: launch window about 4 minutes earlier/day)

NET January 14 - Transporter-1: ARCE 1A, ARCE 1B, ARCE 1C, Capella-3 (Whitney 1), Capella-4 (Whitney 2), Delfi-PQ 1, EASAT, GHGSat-C2 (Hugo), GNOMES 2, ION-SVC 2 (ION-SVC Laurentius), Kepler GEN1 (8–10 sats), Landmapper-Demo6, Landmapper-Demo7, Lemur-2 (x8), LINCS A, LINCS B, Outpost Demonstration 1, PlasmaBrake, PULSE, RadCube, SAMSON 1, SAMSON 2, SAMSON 3, SpaceBEE (x24), SW1FT Quadpack? (LabSat, OrbAstro, SteamSat, SW1FT/SEZ), UVSQ-SAT, XR-1, SXRS-3 / Sherpa-FX [Astrocast (x5 8), Celestis 17, CPOD A (PONSFD A), CPOD B (PONSFD B), ELROI, Hawk D, Hawk E, Hawk F, P2-10, ELaNa 35: PTD-1, QPS-SAR 2 Izanami, TAGSAT-1, Umbra-SAR 2001], Vigoride-1 [AuroraSat-1, Alba Cluster 3 (EASAT-2, Grizu-263a, HADES, Libertylife, LibertyQube 1, Pycubed, Sattla, Tartan Artibeus, TRSI 2), NUTSAT, VZLUsat 2] + multiple satellites - Falcon 9-105 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A - ~~14:00 ~~17:00
(SSO: launch time of day mostly invariant through the year)

Late January NET Early January - Starlink flight 17 (x60) [v1.0 L16] - Falcon 9-106 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A
(Starlink: launch 22-26 minutes earlier/day)

January-February - Starlink flight 18 (x60) [v1.0 L17] - Falcon 9 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A
(Starlink: launch 22-26 minutes earlier/day)

Changes on December 15th
Changes on December 17th
Changes on December 19th
Changes on December 20th
Changes on December 31st
Changes on January 4th
Changes on January 5th
Changes on January 6th
zubenelgenubi

[Jansen]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/12/19/spacex-closes-out-record-year-of-launches-from-floridas-space-coast/

SpaceX will begin its 2021 launch campaign in early January, when a Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to send the Turksat 5A communications satellite into orbit Jan. 4 from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Another

That is some superfast payload processing if Turksat 5A landed on Dec 13.

22 days, including the Christmas and New Year holidays.

[Jansen]

SFN has a launch time:

Launch window: 0127-0529 GMT on 5th (8:27 p.m.-12:29 a.m. EST on 4th/5th)

[zubenelgenubi]

This launch could be the first orbital launch of 2021 for planet Earth!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1344263162439327745

Tugboat Finn Falgout is being hooked up to Just Read the Instructions droneship.

JRTI departure for the TurkSat-5A mission expected today or tomorrow - heading 673 km downrange.

Details: spacexfleet.com/next

Live on NSF Fleetcam:

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1344374881207652357

Departure! Just Read the Instructions droneship is outbound for the Turksat-5A mission!

Tug Finn Falgout is towing JRTI 673km downrange!

Live via @NASASpaceflight Fleetcam! youtu.be/gnt2wZBg89g