Launch News SpaceX 1st Block 5 F9: Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Mission (20:12 UTC, May 10 2018)

[Nicholas Kang]

SpaceX is targeting launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 on Thursday, May 10 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The launch window opens at 4:12 p.m. EDT, or 20:12 UTC, and closes at 6:22 p.m. EDT, or 22:22 UTC. A backup launch window opens on Friday, May 11 at 4:14 p.m. EDT, or 20:14 UTC, and closes at 6:21 p.m. EDT, or 22:21 UTC. Bangabandhu Satellite-1 will be deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) approximately 33 minutes after launch.

The Bangabandhu Satellite-1 mission will be the first to utilize Falcon 9 Block 5, the final substantial upgrade to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Falcon 9 Block 5 is designed to be capable of 10 or more flights with very limited refurbishment as SpaceX continues to strive for rapid reusability and extremely high reliability. Following stage separation, SpaceX will attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Live webcast:

About the Satellite:

Bangabandhu 1 is the first Bangladeshian geostationary communications satellite.

The satellite was ordered in November 2015 from Thales Alenia Space, who will build, launch and operate the satellite for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

Built on Thales Alenia Space's Spacebus-4000B2 platform, Bangabandhu 1 will be stationed at an orbital slot at longitude 119.1° east with 14 standard C-band transponders and 26 Ku-band transponders.

{colsp=2}

Specifications​

Type/Application:|

• Communication

Operator:|

• Thales Alenia Space for Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC)

Equipment:|

• 14 standard C-band transponders
• 26 Ku-band transponders

Configuration:|

• Spacebus-4000B2

Propulsion:|

• S400

Power:|

• 2 deployable solar arrays
• Batteries

Lifetime:|

• 15 years

Mass:|

• ~3700 kg

Orbit:|

• GEO

SpaceX Block 5 improvements/changes:

• For increased payload:
  • 7–8% more thrust by uprating the engines;
  • an improved flight control system for an optimized angle of attack on the descent, lowering landing fuel requirements.
• For reusability endurance:
  • a reusable heat shield protecting the engines and plumbing at the base of the rocket;
  • more temperature-resistant cast and machined titanium grid fins;
  • a thermal protection coating on the first stage to limit reentry heating damage;
  • Redesigned and requalified valves for higher levels and much longer duration.
• For rapid reusability:
  • a set of retractable landing legs for rapid recovery and shipping.
• External look
  • the interstage structure that connects the first and second stages will be black and unpainted.

L-1 Weather Forecast:

Time​

|

Temps​

|

Humidity​

|

Pressure​

|

Solar Activity​

|

Surface Visibility​

|

Wind​

|

Weather
10 May 2018/1612-1822 EDT (2012-2222 UTC)​

|

78 °F​

|

60%​

|

30.15 inHg​

|

Low​

|

7 miles​

|

070° @ 15-20 (200’)​

|

None​

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Thick Cloud Layer Rule

Delay day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 40%
Primary concern(s): Thick Cloud Layer Rule

(Latest weather forecast is available here.)


Links:

• SkyRocket Gunter's Space Page Bangabandhu-1
• SpaceX Falcon 9 Bangabandhu-1 Mission
• Patrick AFB L-1 Weather Forecast
• Spacenews.com: How Bangladesh became SpaceX’s first Block 5 Falcon 9 customer
• Wikipedia: F9 FT Block 5

 

[IronRain]

Pictures from spaceflightnow.com

 

[GLS]

It has been a while since the last time 39A didn't have the RSS...

 

[boogabooga]

Anyone know why T0 keeps slipping?

---------- Post added at 05:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------

Terminal countdown...

---------- Post added at 05:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:45 PM ----------

Abort!

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Abort!

More like "scrub" :thumbup: I just checked in and wondered how an unmanned mission could be aborted post-launch :hmm:.

I started thinking that SpaceX developed a way to shut down the booster, dump fuel, and land with the payload like an airliner. I wouldn't put it past them.

 

[boogabooga]

They were about an hour late getting started. Not sure why. Then, they had an "abort" at T-58. The abort has since led to a scrub.

 

[Andy44]

More like "scrub" :thumbup: I just checked in and wondered how an unmanned mission could be aborted post-launch :hmm:.

Any mission can be aborted post launch when the range safety officer pushes the Big Red Button.

"Abort" doesn't necessarily mean you get the payload back intact, of course.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X3DDJXzcxk"]SpaceX launches new Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket - YouTube[/ame]

Another one! Can't wait to see this core get 10 flights in.

 

[Andy44]

Falcon 9 Block 5 first launch & landing - YouTube

Another one! Can't wait to see this core get 10 flights in.

Video blocked :thumbsdown:

 

[boogabooga]

"This video contains blah blah...blocked on copyright grounds."

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Video blocked :thumbsdown:

I linked another one.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Big thumbs up to SpaceX for the paint job on the new Block 5. It's evocative of Mariner, Gemini and Saturn. With the black grid fins folded down for launch, you even get the black + white checkerboard effect as well.