SpaceX Falcon 9 : Telstar 18 Vantage/Apstar-5C : Sept. 10, 2018 - UPDATES

[Steven Pietrobon]

End of webcast.

[SciNews]

recap
Falcon 9 launch & landing

Telstar 18 VANTAGE deployment, including images of first stage

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Launch photo from SpaceX website

[cygnusx112]

I took this one from 401 just outside the CCAFS gate.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Telesat confirms the Telstar 18 VANTAGE/APSTAR 5C communications satellite has contacted ground control after tonight’s launch from Cape Canaveral. spaceflightnow.com/2018/09/09/fal…

https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1039025307578245121

[FutureSpaceTourist]

The incomparable @cbphoto1 was also on scene as #falcon9, #telstar18V set sail from Cape Canaveral AFS early Monday...

https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/1039032438591238144

[input~2]

A first object has been cataloged:

2018-069B/43612 in 259 x 18060 km x 26.95°

[Chris Bergin]

Advanced High Throughput Satellite (HTS) Built by Maxar’s SSL for Telesat Successfully Begins On-Orbit Operations

Optimized performance and capacity on Telstar 18 VANTAGE demonstrate SSL’s leadership in powering the new space economy

PALO ALTO, Calif. – September 10, 2018 – SSL, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR), and a leading provider of innovative satellites and spacecraft systems, today announced that an advanced communications satellite it built for Telesat, a leading global satellite operator, was launched yesterday night and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite, called Telstar 18 VANTAGE, deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Telstar 18 VANTAGE will begin firing its main thruster later today in order to propel the spacecraft toward its final geostationary (GEO) orbit. The advanced performance and capacity built into Telstar 18 VANTAGE, to serve the growing demand for broadband connectivity, demonstrate SSL’s leadership in partnering with its customers to power the new space economy.

“This is our second very advanced high throughput satellite that we provided to Telesat this summer,” said Dario Zamarian, group president of SSL. “I would like to thank Telesat for putting its confidence in SSL and for working with us as a team to make this mission a success. The exceptional performance and capacity SSL integrated into Telstar 18 VANTAGE demonstrates how we, together with our long term colleagues at Telesat, are providing next-generation space systems that improve lives here on Earth.”

Telstar 18 VANTAGE is one of a new generation of Telesat satellites with capacity optimized to serve bandwidth intensive applications increasingly in demand by users worldwide. SSL incorporated multiple technology innovations, including additive manufacturing, electric propulsion, and a variety of next generation systems to maximize the satellite’s broadband service capabilities and provide Telesat customers with a competitive edge in meeting growing demand from mobility, enterprise and telecom markets across the Asia Pacific region.

Once in service at 138 degrees East, the satellite will be in an ideal orbital position for connecting Asia to the Americas. Telstar 18 VANTAGE replaces and expands on Telstar 18 and will provide extensive C-band capacity over Asia, powerful Ku-band HTS spotbeams over Indonesia and Malaysia, and five additional Ku-band beams – innovative payloads that will deliver a new level of performance and value for satellite broadband requirements. Telesat partnered with APT Satellite of Hong Kong in the design and deployment of this spacecraft, which APT calls Apstar-5C. 

“As the third high throughput satellite in our global fleet, Telstar 18 VANTAGE will provide important competitive advantages for our customers across Asia,” said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO, Telesat. “SSL has been a trusted partner for many years and I would like to congratulate the entire team for the delivery of this complex and advanced spacecraft.”

With the launch of Telstar 18 VANTAGE there are now 90 satellites built by SSL in GEO orbit. This number represents more commercial GEOs built by SSL than by any other manufacturer.

Also of note, the satellite shares a name with the 2018 World Cup gameplay ball, which was named Telstar 18. This was a tribute to the World Cup ball used in 1970, which was the first World Cup to be broadcast live around the world over satellite.

About Telesat

Telesat is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, the company’s state-of-the-art fleet consists of 17 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 and one Phase 1 LEO satellite which is the start of  Telesat’s planned global LEO satellite constellation that will offer low latency, high throughput broadband services.  Telesat is also a leading technical consultant providing high value expertise and support to satellite operators, insurers and other industry participants on a global basis. Privately held, Telesat’s principal shareholders are Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL).

About SSL

SSL, based in Palo Alto, California, is a leading provider of advanced spacecraft systems, with broad expertise to support commercial and government satellite operators and innovative space missions. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft for services such as direct-to-home television, video content distribution, broadband internet, mobile communications, in-orbit servicing, space exploration, and Earth observation. As a Silicon Valley innovator for 60 years, SSL’s advanced product line includes state-of-the-art small satellites, and sophisticated robotics and autonomous solutions for remote operations. SSL is a Maxar Technologies company (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR). For more information, visit www.sslmda.com.

About Maxar Technologies

As a global leader of advanced space technology solutions, Maxar Technologies (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates) is at the nexus of the new space economy, developing and sustaining the infrastructure and delivering the information, services, systems that unlock the promise of space for commercial and government markets. As a trusted partner, Maxar Technologies provides vertically-integrated capabilities and expertise including satellites, Earth imagery, robotics, geospatial data and analytics to help customers anticipate and address their most complex mission-critical challenges with confidence. With more than 6,500 employees in over 30 global locations, the Maxar Technologies portfolio of commercial space brands includes MDA, SSL, DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions. Every day, billions of people rely on Maxar to communicate, share information and data, and deliver insights that Build a Better World. Maxar trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as MAXR. For more information, visit www.maxar.com.

[LouScheffer]

A first object has been cataloged:

2018-069B/43612 in 259 x 18060 km x 26.95°

Then about 2267 m/s to get to GEO.  468 m/s at perigee to raise apogee to GEO , then 1799 m/s at apogee to circularize and remove inclination.

[SciNews]

Press release from Telesat

Telesat Successfully Launches Telstar 18 VANTAGE, Powerful Satellite Bringing New Coverages and HTS Capacity to the Asia Pacific Region
Innovative C and Ku payloads will meet growing demand formobility,

enterprise and telecom services from 138 degrees East

Cape Canaveral, Florida, September 10, 2018 – Telesat announced today the successful launch of its new Telstar 18 VANTAGE high throughput satellite (HTS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff occurred on Monday, September 10th, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Built by SSL, a Maxar Technologies Company, Telstar 18 VANTAGE is the third HTS in Telesat’s global fleet with capacity that delivers a new level of performance and value for satellite broadband requirements on land, at sea and in the air.

Telstar 18 VANTAGE will replace and expand on the capabilities of Telesat’s Telstar 18 satellite with its extensive C-band capacity over Asia, its Ku-band HTS spot beams over Indonesia and Malaysia, and its five additional regional Ku-band beams. Operating from 138 degrees East, the satellite’s coverage reaches across Asia all the way to Hawaii – in both C and Ku-band – enabling direct connectivity between any point in Asia and the Americas. Its innovative Ku-band payloads of HTS spot beams and focused regional beams will provide customers operating in Southeast Asia, Mongolia, Australia & New Zealand, and the North Pacific Ocean with greater choice and flexibility to serve today’s bandwidth intensive applications.

Telesat VANTAGE satellites combine focused regional beams with powerful HTS spot beams enabling users to maximize throughout and spectral efficiency while optimizing network performance. By implementing these advances on Telstar 18 VANTAGE, Telesat customers across the Asia Pacific region now have a competitive edge in meeting growing demand for satellite broadband from aero and maritime service providers, enterprise network operators and leading telecom companies.

“Telstar 18 VANTAGE is the latest example of how Telesat’s innovative payload designs provide our customers with the advantages they need to compete successfully in today’s satellite service markets,” said Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO. “Telstar 18 VANTAGE is a state-of-the art spacecraft that not only replaces Telstar 18, a satellite in wide use across Asia and the Pacific, but brings far greater capabilities including Ku-band mobility coverage and HTS spot beams that will allow Telesat to grow our presence in the region. We would like to thank SpaceX for the successful launch of Telstar 18 VANTAGE and for their dedication and professionalism throughout this mission.”

Telesat’s Newest Satellite

SpaceX successfully launched Telstar 18 VANTAGE to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) aboard a new Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff was from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Shortly after liftoff, Telesat’s newest satellite with a launch mass of 7,011 kg was deployed from the Falcon 9.

Telstar 18 VANTAGE is expected to enter commercial service after it has successfully completed orbit raising and comprehensive in-orbit testing. As previously announced, Telesat has partnered with APT Satellite of Hong Kong in the design and procurement of this new spacecraft, which APT calls Apstar-5C. The satellite has a 15 year design life.

About Telesat (www.telesat.com)

Telesat is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, the company’s state-of-the-art fleet consists of 17 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 and one Phase 1 LEO satellite which is the start of Telesat’s planned global LEO satellite constellation that will offer low latency, high throughput broadband services. Telesat is also a leading technical consultant providing high value expertise and support to satellite operators, insurers and other industry participants on a global basis. Privately held, Telesat’s principal shareholders are Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL).

Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor

This news release contains statements that are not based on historical fact and are ‘‘forward-looking statements’’ within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the words “will”, “deliver”, “grow”, “after”, “expected to”, or other variations of these words or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Detailed information about some of the known risks and uncertainties is included in the “Risk Factors” section of Telesat Canada’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 which can be obtained on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Known risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures or impaired satellite performance, the ability to successfully deploy an advanced global LEO satellite constellation, volatility in exchange rates and risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. The information contained in this news release reflects Telesat’s beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Telesat disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the information herein.

https://www.telesat.com/news-events/telesat-successfully-launches-telstar-18-vantage-powerful-satellite-bringing-new

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Sheathed in clouds of liquid oxygen, #SpaceX’s #Falcon9 rocket launches #Telstar18V at 12:45 A.M. this morning. What a dramatic display of fury!

https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1039159030080581633

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Last night’s launch of Telstar 18 VANTAGE marked Falcon 9’s 60th successful mission.

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1039221575772303366

Edit to add: more and higher res SpaceX launch images

[FutureSpaceTourist]

The #SpaceX booster on the horizon.

https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112/status/1039837706350743553

Also: https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1039837723656441856

[FutureSpaceTourist]

#SpaceX booster 1049 slowly making its way into port. Close enough to see the support ships.

https://twitter.com/cygnusx112/status/1039850717459173376

[FutureSpaceTourist]

#SpaceX booster 1049 along with tugs Hawk and Go Quest are 1Nm offshore and headed into port

https://twitter.com/cygnusx112/status/1039867714343522307

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Getting close! #SpaceX booster 1049 entering port.

https://twitter.com/cygnusx112/status/1039873782608027649

Booster 1049 is back @PortCanaveral after delivering #TelStar18 to orbit. @SpaceX @NASASpaceflight

https://twitter.com/cygnusx112/status/1039878628849410048

[FutureSpaceTourist]

@murphypak is showing the booster arrival live:

https://www.pscp.tv/murphypak/1zqKVLEDNlYJB

[RocketLover0119]

Per here: https://orlandoprincess.com/ , B1049 has been lifted on to land.

[cygnusx112]

A few pictures of the booster being removed from OCISLY.

[FutureSpaceTourist]