Sonntag, 19. Dezember 2021 - 10:00

Raumfahrt - Start von SpaceX Falcon9 mit Turksat-5B communications satellite

16.12.2021

Weather looks good for SpaceX launch of Turkish comms satellite this weekend

Space Force weather forecasters are anticipating favorable conditions for the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Turkish communications satellite this weekend.

Conditions around Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 40, Space Launch Delta 45 said, should be 80% "go" for liftoff at 10:58 p.m. ET Saturday. Teams will have a 90-minute window to launch the 230-foot rocket.

Risks posed by upper-level winds and conditions in the Atlantic Ocean for a drone ship recovery were both noted as "low risk." The temperature should hover around a comfortable 69 degrees at liftoff.

If the launch pushes to Sunday due to technical or scheduling reasons, conditions take a dip to 60% "go" due to the forecast calling for thick clouds. Liftoff would be at or around the same time.

For this launch, spectators should note the trajectory will differ from the typical northeast flightpath: after liftoff, Falcon 9 will pivot engines and fly straight out east over the Atlantic to eventually deliver Turksat-5B to geostationary orbit some 22,200 miles above Earth.

The roughly 10,000-pound satellite marks the last outsourced spacecraft for Turkey, which was built by Airbus Defense and Space in France. Officials recently said some communications components were produced domestically in Turkey for integration onto 5B.

The satellite will serve commercial and government purposes as well as offer some services to surrounding countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

The gradual shift to domestic production paves the way for Turksat 6A and 6B, the country's first home-built satellites. Both of those are also slated to launch from Florida on Falcon 9 rockets beginning in 2023.

Launch Saturday, Dec. 18

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9
Mission: Turksat-5B communications satellite
Launch Time: 10:58 p.m. ET
Launch Window: To 12:28 a.m. ET
Launch Complex: 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Trajectory: East
Landing: Drone ship
Weather: 80% "go"

Quelle: Florida Today

----

Update: 18.10.2021

SpaceX set for launch of Turkish satellite, making way for last mission of 2021

A Turkish communications satellite is set for liftoff on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this weekend, making way for Florida's last mission of the year just a few days later.

The 230-foot rocket is expected to soar into 80% "go" conditions at 10:58 p.m. Saturday, the opening of a 90-minute window at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 40. A drone ship stationed east of Florida will host the booster's landing.

"A frontal boundary is forecast to approach from the northwest Saturday, with the onshore component to the wind becoming increasingly moist and unstable over the weekend," Space Launch Delta 45 forecasters said in a Friday report.

Expected 80% "go" conditions: Weather looks good for SpaceX launch of Turkish comms satellite this weekend

First domestically produced: Turkey selects SpaceX Falcon 9 and Florida for country's first domestic satellite

The weekend instability means a delay to Sunday, due to technical reasons or otherwise, would see conditions drop to 60% "go" with upper-level winds becoming moderately risky. As rockets travel thousands of miles an hour, slamming into upper-level winds at the wrong angle is akin to hitting a brick wall.

Falcon 9 and its upper stage are tasked with delivering Turksat 5B to geostationary orbit 22,236 miles above Earth where it will, according to Turkish officials, deliver multitudes more capacity than the country currently has access to. It will join 5A, which also flew from the Cape in January.

"Turksat 5B will increase Turkey's satellite and communications potential in the K band by 15 times," Adil Karaismailoglu, minister of transport and infrastructure, said in a pre-launch conference. "Compared to other satellites in its class, it will be 20 times more efficient."

5B will be the last of Turkey's outsourced satellites as the country moves satellite production to its own shores. 5A and 5B were both built by Airbus in France, but 6A and 6B will be entirely produced in Turkey before flying on Falcon 9 rockets no earlier than 2023.

"With our nationally produced satellites, we will become one of 10 countries capable of producing its own satellites," Karaismailoglu said.

An on-time launch Saturday means SpaceX teams just north of Launch Complex 40 will be able to proceed with prepping yet another Falcon 9 for liftoff early Tuesday, Dec. 21. An uncrewed Dragon capsule packed with thousands of pounds of supplies and science experiments will fly from Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A at 5:06 a.m. that day, then autonomously fly to the International Space Station.

Launch Saturday, Dec. 18