Mohammed VI-B (MN35-B, Morocco EO Sat 2) - Vega - Kourou - Nov 20 (21st Z), 2018

[eeergo]

Thread for the launch of the second Moroccan remote-sensing satellite Mohammed VI-B (MN35-B), building on the footsteps of its twin MN35-A launched also by Vega almost a year ago.


http://northafricapost.com/25552-morocco-to-foster-earth-observation-capabilities-with-second-satellite.html

Note the "Arianespace Launch Schedule" thread shows a Nov 20th launch date (it's taken precedence over the PRISMA Vega launch, now scheduled for February next year), slipped from the Nov 6th quoted in the linked article.

[zubenelgenubi]

Given that Mohammed VI-A was launched at 01:42 UTC into a:

<snip>620 x 622 km x 98.0 deg orbit with 10:20 local time descending node following successful launch

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/928121817604247552

If Mohammed VI-B is to be the complementary member of a 2-satellite constellation, when will it launch, and into a SSO orbit with what LTDN?  Early afternoon?

[gosnold]

Given that Mohammed VI-A was launched at 01:42 UTC into a:

<snip>620 x 622 km x 98.0 deg orbit with 10:20 local time descending node following successful launch

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/928121817604247552

If Mohammed VI-B is to be the complementary member of a 2-satellite constellation, when will it launch, and into a SSO orbit with what LTDN?  Early afternoon?

It should be on the same orbit with 180° phasing, like Pléiades, Spot 6&7, etc. That allows for 1-day revisit with the same local time, it makes it easier to compare the shadows for change detection.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post re: Mohammed VI-B launch time:

Vega VV13 launch 11/21/2018  01:42 UTC

Vega
11/20/18 - 10:42 PM (GMT-03:00) Launch VV13 MOHAMMED VI - B

https://cnes-csg.reservationlancement.fr/en/Inscription/Lancements

[gosnold]

Cross-post re: Mohammed VI-B launch time:

Vega VV13 launch 11/21/2018  01:42 UTC

Vega
11/20/18 - 10:42 PM (GMT-03:00) Launch VV13 MOHAMMED VI - B

https://cnes-csg.reservationlancement.fr/en/Inscription/Lancements

So morning orbit around 1030 LTDN

[bolun]

http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-vv13-vega-to-launch-an-earth-observation-satellite-for-the-kingdom-of-morocco/

[bolun]

http://www.arianespace.com/press-kits/

Launch kit

[GWR64]

http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-vv13-vega-to-launch-an-earth-observation-satellite-for-the-kingdom-of-morocco/

...Being complementary, the MOHAMMED VI – A & B satellites will jointly enable a faster coverage of zones of interests.  ...

zones of interests
are in the south, everything is clear

[gosnold]

http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-vv13-vega-to-launch-an-earth-observation-satellite-for-the-kingdom-of-morocco/

...Being complementary, the MOHAMMED VI – A & B satellites will jointly enable a faster coverage of zones of interests.  ...

zones of interests
are in the south, everything is clear

Spain and the contested spanish islands too...

[bolun]

November 13, 2018

Arianespace’s Vega launcher is fully assembled for its upcoming flight from the Spaceport

The Vega launch vehicle for Arianespace’s next mission has completed its build-up at the Spaceport, preparing this lightweight member of the company’s launcher family for final checkout ahead of its November 20 liftoff from French Guiana with an Earth observation spacecraft to be operated by the Kingdom of Morocco.

This activity concluded with the integration of Vega’s “upper composite,” which consists of the MOHAMMED VI – B satellite and its protective payload fairing. Installation took place at the Spaceport’s SLV launch site, in the upper level of the facility’s protective mobile gantry.

Produced by Thales Alenia Space as system prime contractor and Airbus as co-prime, the MOHAMMED VI – B satellite will be deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit on the upcoming Vega mission – which is designated Flight VV13 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system.

Enabling more rapid coverage

The MOHAMMED VI – B satellite has an estimated liftoff mass of 1,108 kg. Once in orbit, it will be used primarily for mapping and land surveying activities, regional development, agricultural monitoring, the prevention and management of natural disasters, monitoring changes in the environment and desertification, as well as border and coastal surveillance.

It is the second satellite for the Kingdom of Morocco’s MOHAMMED VI – A & B program, following Arianespace’s Vega launch of the MOHAMMED VI – A satellite in November 2017. Designed to be complementary, the two spacecraft will work together to enable faster coverage of zones of interests.

Vega is the smallest member in Arianespace’s launcher family, joining the medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 to provide a full range of launch services for customers worldwide. Flight VV13 will be the company’s ninth mission of 2018. It follows the launches of five Ariane 5s, two Soyuz vehicles and one Vega so far this year.

http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/vv13-vega-build-up/

[russianhalo117]

November 13, 2018

Arianespace’s Vega launcher is fully assembled for its upcoming flight from the Spaceport

The Vega launch vehicle for Arianespace’s next mission has completed its build-up at the Spaceport, preparing this lightweight member of the company’s launcher family for final checkout ahead of its November 20 liftoff from French Guiana with an Earth observation spacecraft to be operated by the Kingdom of Morocco.

This activity concluded with the integration of Vega’s “upper composite,” which consists of the MOHAMMED VI – B satellite and its protective payload fairing. Installation took place at the Spaceport’s SLV launch site, in the upper level of the facility’s protective mobile gantry.

Produced by Thales Alenia Space as system prime contractor and Airbus as co-prime, the MOHAMMED VI – B satellite will be deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit on the upcoming Vega mission – which is designated Flight VV13 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system.

Enabling more rapid coverage

The MOHAMMED VI – B satellite has an estimated liftoff mass of 1,108 kg. Once in orbit, it will be used primarily for mapping and land surveying activities, regional development, agricultural monitoring, the prevention and management of natural disasters, monitoring changes in the environment and desertification, as well as border and coastal surveillance.

It is the second satellite for the Kingdom of Morocco’s MOHAMMED VI – A & B program, following Arianespace’s Vega launch of the MOHAMMED VI – A satellite in November 2017. Designed to be complementary, the two spacecraft will work together to enable faster coverage of zones of interests.

Vega is the smallest member in Arianespace’s launcher family, joining the medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 to provide a full range of launch services for customers worldwide. Flight VV13 will be the company’s ninth mission of 2018. It follows the launches of five Ariane 5s, two Soyuz vehicles and one Vega so far this year.

http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/vv13-vega-build-up/

There apparently is also C&D sats planned but they will not launch for several years and launchers have not been assigned.

[input~2]

Navigational warning for presumably AVUM reentry:

INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
0351Z TO 0508Z DAILY 21 NOV THRU 21 DEC
IN AREA BOUND BY
26-50S 087-30E, 14-00S 090-21E,
14-06S 090-47E, 26-56S 087-56E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 210608Z DEC 18.//

Authority: NAVAREA VIII 781/18 161023Z NOV 18.

Date: 161121Z NOV 18
Cancel: 21060800 Dec 18

[jacqmans]

November 19, 2018 

Arianespace’s second Vega mission of 2018 is cleared for its November 20 liftoff

The next Arianespace Vega mission from French Guiana has been authorized for liftoff tomorrow following completion of its launch readiness review, which was conducted today at the Spaceport.

This assessment is held prior to each flight of an Arianespace launcher family member. It confirmed that the lightweight launch vehicle and passenger – the MOHAMMED VI ‐ B satellite – are flight-ready, along with the Spaceport’s infrastructure and the network of downrange tracking stations.

The mission is designated VV13 in Arianespace’s numbering system, and it will be performed from the Spaceport’s SLV launch site – where the Vega was assembled and now stands in a flight-ready configuration, protected by a mobile gantry that will be withdrawn prior to liftoff.

All is now set for tomorrow’s liftoff at precisely 10:42:31 p.m. local time in French Guiana (1:42:31 UTC on November 21) for a mission lasting 55 minutes and 57 seconds.

A launch for the Kingdom of Morocco

Produced by Thales Alenia Space as system prime contractor and Airbus as co-prime, the MOHAMMED VI ‐ B satellite has an estimated liftoff mass of 1,108 kg. and will be deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit. Once in orbit, it will be used primarily for mapping and land surveying activities, regional development, agricultural monitoring, the prevention and management of natural disasters, monitoring changes in the environment and desertification, as well as border and coastal surveillance.

It is the second satellite for the Kingdom of Morocco’s MOHAMMED VI ‐ A & B program, following Arianespace’s Vega launch of the MOHAMMED VI ‐ A satellite in November 2017. Designed to be complementary, the two spacecraft will work together to enable faster coverage of zones of interests.

Flight VV13 will be Arianespace’s ninth mission in 2018, and is the company’s second this year using a Vega launcher – which is one of three launch vehicles operated by Arianespace at the Spaceport, along with the medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5. Vega is provided to Arianespace by Italy’s Avio, which is the industrial prime contractor.

http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/arianespaces-second-vega-mission-of-2018-is-cleared-for-its-november-20-liftoff/

[jacqmans]

[starbase]

Arianespace YouTube webcast link:

[Chris Bergin]

Article:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/11/arianespace-vega-mohammed-vi-b-launch/

[Steven Pietrobon]

Colour and annoying sound check.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Sound checks have ended.

[Steven Pietrobon]

2 minutes to start of webcast.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Webcast has started.