Форум Новости Космонавтики

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)  Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight)
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with Es'hail-2 has turned up on the Eastern Range as NET November 14. This launch will take place from 39A. Cool photo from Nathan Barker (@NASA_Nerd (https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd)) from this week below: Range shows this is an ASDS landing for the booster. As always, subject to change.
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171417.jpg)
  11:02 - 17 окт. 2018 г. 

ЦитироватьEs'hail 2  
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/191717.jpg)
Es'hail 2 [MELCO]
 
Es'hail 2 is a planned communication satellite operated by Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company. It will also feature an radio amateur payload.
The new satellite will be positioned at the 26° East hotspot position for TV broadcasting and significantly adds to the company's ability to provide high quality, premium DTH television content across the Middle East and North Africa. It will feature Ku-band and Ka-band transponders to provide TV distribution and government services to strategic stakeholders and commercial customers who value broadcasting and communications independence, interference resilience, quality of service and wide geographical coverage. Es'hail 2 is expected to be launched at the end of 2016.
Es'hail 2 will also provide the first Amateur Radio geostationary communication capability linking Brazil and India. It will carry two AMSAT P4A (Phase 4A) Amateur Radio transponders. The payload will consist of a 250 kHz linear transponder intended for conventional analogue operations in addition to another transponder which will have an 8 MHz bandwidth. The latter transponder is intended for experimental digital modulation schemes and DVB amateur television. The uplinks will be in the 2.400-2.450 GHz and the downlinks in the 10.450-10.500 GHz amateur satellite service allocations. Both transponders will have broad beam antennas to provide full coverage over about third of the earth's surface. The Qatar Amateur Radio Society and Qatar Satellite Company are cooperating on the amateur radio project. AMSAT-DL is providing technical support to the project.
In September 2014, a contract with MELCO was signed to build the satellite based on the DS-2000 (https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/melco_ds-2000.htm) bus. In December 2014, a launch contract was sigbned with SpaceX to laucnh the satellite on a Falcon-9 v1.2 (https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/falcon-9_v1-2.htm) booster in late 2016, but was deleyed to th 3rd quarter of 2017 and then to 2018.
 
 [TH]Nation:[/TH] [TH]Type / Application:[/TH] [TH]Operator:[/TH] [TH]Contractors:[/TH] [TH]Equipment:[/TH] [TH]Configuration:[/TH] [TH]Propulsion:[/TH] [TH]Power:[/TH] [TH]Lifetime:[/TH] [TH]Mass:[/TH] [TH]Orbit:[/TH]

Qatar

Communication, amateur communication

Es'hailsat, AMSAT

Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO)

Ku- and Ka-band transponders, AMSAT payload

DS-2000 (https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/melco_ds-2000.htm)

?

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

15 years

~3000 kg

GEO

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 6 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1060551990332284928)

With the usual caveat of subject to change, Falcon 9 is set to return to KSC's 39A on November 11 for a Static Fire test ahead of the November 15 launch (window 1546 - 1729 local) of ES'HAIL-2.

The booster will an ocean landing - returning to OCISLY.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171974.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/30273.jpg)Raul‏ @Raul74Cz (https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz) 9 нояб. (https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1060870734040444930)

#Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash) Launch Hazard Area based on issued NOTMAR. Planned droneship landing position 658km downrange according to appropriate FCC application. https://goo.gl/JYk1ey  (https://t.co/5vo6yRthAN)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172019.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg)Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1061670821368946689)

A Falcon 9 rocket is rolling out to pad 39A as #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) prepares for an engine test firing ahead of a launch later this week. https://spaceflightnow.com  (https://t.co/JnIoA3IeyF)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172180.jpg)

ЦитироватьApollo13 пишет:
Первая ступень кажется серая?

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184848.jpg)TomCross‏ @_TomCross_ (https://twitter.com/_TomCross_) 11 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/_TomCross_/status/1061711443295436800)

This is the view @ExploreSpaceKSC (https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC) of Falcon 9 awaiting static fire testing. This is a pre-flown Block 5 which launched Telstar 19V in July. This is the 18th SpaceX mission this year. Yes, 11months, 18 missions (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125471.png). They'll be landing this booster (again) on OCISLY. @Teslarati (https://twitter.com/Teslarati)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172174.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172173.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172171.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172172.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьLive coverage: Falcon 9 rocket to be test-fired at Kennedy Space Center
November 12, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/11/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

11/12/2018 04:16 Stephen Clark

SpaceX has rolled out a previously-flown Falcon 9 rocket for a test-firing as soon as Monday on pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, setting the stage for a launch no earlier than Thursday carrying the Japanese-built, Qatari-owned Es'hail 2 communications satellite to orbit.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/361002.jpg) (https://photo.24liveblog.com/2123571779592298973/20181112011635_886977.jpg)

The rocket rolled out of SpaceX's hangar and up the ramp at pad 39A on Sunday, then was hoisted vertical with a transporter-erector mechanism called the strongback.

A test-firing of the rocket's nine first stage Merlin engines is planned as soon as Monday, at the conclusion of a mock countdown that will include tanking of the Falcon 9 with kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants.

If the static fire test goes as planned Monday, the rocket could be rolled back to the hangar, connected with its commercial satellite payload, and returned to pad 39A in time for a launch window opening at 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT) Thursday.

Спойлер

The Falcon 9 rocket will fly with a first stage booster previously flown in July on a mission carrying the Telstar 19 VANTAGE telecom payload toward geostationary orbit, then recovered at sea aboard SpaceX's drone ship.

SpaceX is expected to attempt another landing of the rocket after Thursday afternoon's liftoff, again aboard the drone ship a few hundred miles east of Cape Canaveral.

The payload for Thursday's launch is Es'hail 2, built in Japan by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and owned by Qatar's national satellite communications company, Es'hailSat. Es'hail 2 will provide television broadcasts, broadband connectivity and government services to Qatar and neighboring parts of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

The spacecraft also carries the first amateur radio payload to fly in geostationary orbit.

[свернуть]

Цитировать11/12/2018 16:40 Stephen Clark

Vapors are streaming away from SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket this morning, suggesting the launcher is being fueled for a test-firing at pad 39A this morning.

A big puff of venting appeared moments ago, suggesting the static fire could be timed for around 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT).

SpaceX loads kerosene, liquid oxygen and helium pressurant into the two-stage rocket during the final minutes of the countdown. The first stage's nine Merlin engines will ignite for several seconds and throttle up to 1.7 million pounds of thrust, while restraints will keep the rocket firmly on the ground.


11/12/2018 16:42 Stephen Clark

Here's a view of the venting at pad 39A moments ago.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/365983.jpg) (https://photo.24liveblog.com/2123571779592298973/20181112134205_053677.jpg)


11/12/2018 16:57 Stephen Clark

The strongback structure at pad 39A has retracted into position for engine start. Static fire is around three minutes away.

11/12/2018 17:02 Stephen Clark

The static fire did not occur as expected at 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT). The strongback has moved back into position next to the Falcon 9 rocket.

Today's test window extends until 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT).


11/12/2018 17:10 Stephen Clark

A new static fire attempt is not expected immediately because it takes some time to recondition and reload super-chilled, densified kerosene and liquid oxygen into the rocket after an abort. But today's test window extends for nearly six more hours, so another countdown could happen later today.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/30256.jpg)Tom McCool‏ @Cygnusx112 (https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112) 59 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112/status/1062002394156937217)

Really hazy out here at Playalinda and currently not seeing any venting from the #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) Static fire scheduled for today. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172218.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184925.jpg)Cowboy Dan‏ @CowboyDanPaasch (https://twitter.com/CowboyDanPaasch) 17 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/CowboyDanPaasch/status/1061792549105553408)

#SpaceXArmada (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceXArmada?src=hash): Moments ago, outbound tugboat Hawk with droneship OCISLY in tow in @PortCanaveral (https://twitter.com/PortCanaveral). Destination: Booster core landing/recovery LZ of Thursday's #Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash) launch, approx 408 mi E of @NASAKennedy (https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172184.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1062072787496505344)

SpaceX making another attempt at the Static Fire test with Falcon 9 ahead of the Es'hail-2 mission, with a new window tonight - opens at 8pm Eastern according to the KSC-wide e-mail notification (for roadblocks and restrictions).

Цитировать11/13/2018 04:04 Stephen Clark

Venting has appeared at pad 39A, indicating fueling preps are underway for a static fire attempt this evening.


11/13/2018 04:11 Stephen Clark

A large puff of vapor is flowing from the Falcon 9 rocket and its strongback structure at pad 39A. Hotfire is currently targeted for 8:30 p.m. EST (0130 GMT).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/365944.jpg) (https://photo.24liveblog.com/2123571779592298973/20181113011121_397109.jpg)


11/13/2018 04:27 Stephen Clark

The strongback at pad 39A has retracted a few degrees from the Falcon 9 launcher in preparation for engine start. Hotfire is less than four minutes away.

Цитировать11/13/2018 04:30 Stephen Clark

A plume of rocket exhaust just appeared out of the flame trench at pad 39A, indicating the Falcon 9 rocket has conducted a hold-down firing in preparation for a later this week with a commercial communications satellite.

We'll stand by for confirmation of a successful test from SpaceX.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/365984.jpg) (https://photo.24liveblog.com/2123571779592298973/20181113013052_978606.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 17:31 (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1062155962058989571) - 12 нояб. 2018 г.

Plume observed so that'll be the Static Fire. How it went will be the subject of the "Quick Look" review, after which - if all is well - SpaceX will tweet confirmation of the test and the launch date.


(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg)William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 17:32 (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1062156253340880896) - 12 нояб. 2018 г.

F9/Es'hail2: After an apparent test scrub this morning, SpaceX carried out a 1st stage engine hot fire at 8:30pm EST this evening at KSC's pad 39A to set the stage for launch Thursday of Qatar's Es'hail 2 comsat; test appeared normal; standing by for SpaceX update

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg)William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 17:54 (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1062161803965276160) - 12 нояб. 2018 г.

F9/Es'hail2: Here's a shot of the Falcon 9 hot fire test this evening (pardon the humidity!):

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171841.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg)SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 18:13 (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1062166579306102784) - 12 нояб. 2018 г.

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting November 15 launch of Es'hail-2 from Pad 39A in Florida.

ЦитироватьSpaceX fires Falcon 9 booster on pad 39A, aims for comsat launch Thursday
November 13, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/11/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145164.jpg)
A plume of exhaust erupts from the flame trench at pad 39A during a hold-down firing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Monday night. Credit: William Harwood/CBS News

SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket Monday night at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, clearing the way for a launch Thursday with Qatar's Es'hail 2 communications satellite, the first daytime liftoff from Florida's Space Coast in more than six months.

The rocket's nine Merlin 1D first stage engines ignited at 8:30 p.m. EST Monday (0130 GMT Tuesday) and fired for several seconds as hold-down restraints kept the Falcon 9 grounded at pad 39A, the historic former starting point for numerous space shuttle launches and Saturn 5 moonshots.

SpaceX recovered from an apparent aborted hotfire attempt Monday morning, reloaded kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants into the launcher, and accomplished the static fire after nightfall Monday.

The two-stage rocket is set to blast of with a previously-flown first stage booster recovered on SpaceX's drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean following the July 22 launch of the Telstar 19 VANTAGE communications satellite.

The rocket will be rolled back to the hangar, connected with its commercial satellite payload, and returned to pad 39A in time for a launch window opening at 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT) Thursday.

Спойлер

SpaceX is expected to attempt another landing of the rocket after Thursday afternoon's liftoff, again aboard the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" a few hundred miles east of Cape Canaveral.

The payload for Thursday's launch is Es'hail 2, built in Japan by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and owned by Qatar's national satellite communications company, Es'hailSat. Equipped with Ku-band and Ka-band transponders, Es'hail 2 will provide television broadcasts, broadband connectivity and government services to Qatar and neighboring parts of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

The spacecraft also carries the first two amateur radio antennas to fly in geostationary orbit, linking hobbyists across a third of the Earth's surface in a single hop from as far west as Brazil and as far east as India.

In a statement earlier this year, Es'hailSat said the new satellite features "sophisticated anti-jamming capabilities" to curb interference and will significantly expand the company's offerings currently provided by Es'hail 1, which launched in 2013 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.

The launch Thursday will mark the 63rd flight of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and the 18th SpaceX mission of the year.

It will also end a run of night launches at Cape Canaveral stretching back to May 11, when a Falcon 9 rocket last flew from pad 39A. A series of launches from Cape Canaveral by SpaceX and United Launch Alliance over the summer and fall have all occurred during nighttime

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSpaceX - Es'hail2 - Static Fire Test 11-12-2018

USLaunchReport (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hWqb0u1eKgYmVryCEyJYA)

Опубликовано: 12 нояб. 2018 г.

Цитироватькукушка пишет:
Его масса — 5300 килограммов.

Цитировать11/13/2018 23:21 Stephen Clark

The first official weather forecast for Thursday's scheduled Falcon 9 launch from the Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A projects a 60 percent chance of conditions favorable for liftoff.

The main weather concerns are potential violations of the thick cloud and cumulus cloud rules as a cold front pushes through Central Florida.

"By Thursday, the strong high pressure push behind the front will bring cooler, drier air into Florida, moving through the spaceport Thursday morning," the U.S. Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron wrote in a forecast today. "Cloudiness and rain will diminish through the day as the boundary pushes south of the area. The primary weather concerns are lingering thick cloud layers and cumulus clouds associated with the front. Maximum upper-level winds will be from the southwest at 90 knots at 40,000 feet."

The Falcon 9's launch window opens at 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT) and extends to 5:29 p.m. EST (2229 GMT).

During the launch window Thursday, forecasters predict isolated rain showers and mostly cloudy skies with scattered clouds at 2,500 feet and broken decks at 14,000 feet and 25,000 feet.

Winds will be from the west-northwest at 12 to 17 mph, and the temperature will be around 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the launch is delayed to Friday, conditions should improve, with a 90 percent probability of acceptable weather, the chief concern being gusty ground winds.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186343.jpg)Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 42 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1062455494542049281)

Both the #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) and #Antares (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Antares?src=hash) launches are being affected Thursday by the same frontal system currently moving its way across the U.S.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171882.jpg)

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
60 % GO (пусковой день)
 90 % GO (резервный день)

Цитироватьна сайте SpaceX

spacex.com/webcast (http://www.spacex.com/webcast)

или

на ТыТрубе

youtube.com/watch?v=PhTbzc-BqKs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhTbzc-BqKs)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29925.jpg)Michael Baylor‏ @nextspaceflight (https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight) 8 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1062852687828529152)

Confirmed: B1047.2 will launch Es'hail 2.

#SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/reuse/38 ... (https://t.co/jIHoP123TH)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172272.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg)Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 12 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1063041368874987522)

A Falcon 9 rocket is being lifted upright at launch pad 39A as SpaceX prepares for the launch of Qatar's Es'hail 2 communications satellite.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172284.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31566.jpg)Brady Kenniston‏ @TheFavoritist (https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist/status/1063043526596923393)

Falcon 9 is going vertical ahead of remote camera setup.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172285.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg)Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 17 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1063045329908572160)

The Falcon 9 is now in position on the launch pad under gloomy skies at the Kennedy Space Center. Check our Mission Status Center for countdown updates throughout the day: https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/11/15/falcon-9-eshail-2-mission-status-center/ ... (https://t.co/vr3ykjF86e)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172287.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186343.jpg)Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 3 мин.
назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1063053390559756288)

Not best angle, but good as we'll get today. Higher res later. BUT... 1 FSS cladding panel appears to be on #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) tower at 39A! North side (far side of image) on lowest lowest level. Hard to see. Also, rain birds now covered in black thermal coating. ⁦@NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight)⁩

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172279.jpg)

ЦитироватьLive coverage: SpaceX set to launch communications satellite for Qatar
November 15, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/11/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

11/15/2018 16:01 Stephen Clark

Good morning fr om launch pad 39A, wh ere a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket — sporting the marks of a past mission into space — is standing vertical in preparation for liftoff at 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/361003.jpg) (https://photo.24liveblog.com/2123571779592298973/20181115130150_919038.jpeg)

A line of rain showers passed over the spaceport less than an hour ago, and skies are clearing as SpaceX counts down to the first daytime launch from Florida's Space Coast since May 11.

Today's mission will be SpaceX's 18th mission this year, and the 63rd flight of a Falcon 9 rocket since the launcher's first version debuted in June 2010.

Цитировать11/15/2018 16:18 Stephen Clark

Low clouds continue moving over pad 39A this morning.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/361004.jpg) (https://photo.24liveblog.com/2123571779592298973/20181115131831_224644.jpeg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg)SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1063090234974330880)

Falcon 9 and Es'hail-2 are vertical on Pad 39A in Florida. Today's launch window opens at 3:46 p.m. EST, 20:46 UTC. Falcon 9's first stage for this mission previously supported the Telstar 19 VANTAGE launch in July 2018.

http://spacex.com/webcast  (https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172290.jpg)

ЦитироватьPhotos: Previously-flown Falcon 9 booster ready for another launch
November 15, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/11/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

A Falcon 9 rocket powered by a first stage booster recovered after a launch in July is being readied for another flight Thursday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket is standing at pad 39A, the starting point for numerous space shuttle launches and Saturn 5 moonshots, in preparation for liftoff Thursday during a launch window opening at 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT).

Inside the Falcon 9's nose shroud: Es'hail 2, Japanese-built, Qatari-owned communications satellite to link users across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

Спойлер

The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket shows the soot markings of a previous launch and re-entry July 22, when it lifted off from nearby pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the Telstar 19 VANTAGE communications satellite.

On that flight, the booster detached from the Falcon 9's upper stage and descended back through the atmosphere, using grid fins and rocket thrust to land on SpaceX's drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Atlantic Ocean a few hundred miles east of Cape Canaveral.

The first stage will try the same maneuvers after Thursday's launch, again aiming for a landing at sea before potentially another mission.

Thursday's launch will be the 15th SpaceX mission to launch off pad 39A, and SpaceX's 18th launch overall this year, including flights from KSC, neighboring Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

It will be the 63rd flight of a Falcon 9 rocket since the first variant of SpaceX's workhorse first launched in June 2010, and the 17th time SpaceX has reused a booster on an orbital mission.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145155.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145156.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145157.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145158.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145159.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145160.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145161.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145162.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145163.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьFalcon 9 launch timeline with Es'hail 2
November 15, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/11/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is set for liftoff from Cape Canaveral on Thursday, heading due east over the Atlantic Ocean to deliver the Es'hail 2 communications satellite into orbit around 32 minutes later.

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket is poised for launch from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:46 p.m. EST Thursday (2046 GMT) at the opening of a 103-minute launch window.

Спойлер

Perched atop the rocket is the Es'hail 2 communications satellite, a spacecraft manufactured in Japan by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. for Es'hailSat, Qatar's national satellite communications company.

The satellite carries Ku-band and Ka-band transponders to beam broadband connections, television and other data relay services across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

After deployment from the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket in an elliptical transfer orbit, Es'hail 2 will use its on-board hydrazine-fueled engine and electric thrusters to boost itself into a circular geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) over the equator at 26 degrees east longitude.

Es'hail 2, based on Melco's DS2000 satellite bus, is designed for a 15-year mission.

The Falcon 9 rocket launching Es'hail 2 will fly in the upgraded "Block 5" configuration, with a new second stage and a first stage previously flown on the Telstar 19 VANTAGE launch in July.

The timeline below outlines the launch sequence for the Falcon 9 flight with Es'hail 2

Data source: SpaceX

T-0:00:00: Liftoff

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31291.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31291.jpg)
After the rocket's nine Merlin engines pass an automated health check, hold-down clamps will release the Falcon 9 booster for liftoff from pad 39A.

T+0:00:59: Mach 1

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31292.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31292.jpg)
The Falcon 9 rocket reaches Mach 1, the speed of sound, as the nine Merlin 1D engines provide more than 1.7 million pounds of thrust.

T+0:01:06: Max Q

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31293.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31293.jpg)
The Falcon 9 rocket reaches Max Q, the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure.

T+0:02:35: MECO

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31294.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31294.jpg)
The Falcon 9's nine Merlin 1D engines shut down.

T+0:02:39: Stage 1 Separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31295.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31295.jpg)
The Falcon 9's first stage separates from the second stage moments after MECO.

T+0:02:46: First Ignition of Second Stage

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31296.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31296.jpg)
The second stage Merlin 1D vacuum engine ignites for a six-minute burn to put the rocket and Es'hail 2 into a preliminary parking orbit.

T+0:03:47: Fairing Jettison

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31297.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31297.jpg)
The 5.2-meter (17.1-foot) diameter payload fairing jettisons once the Falcon 9 rocket ascends through the dense lower atmosphere. The 43-foot-tall fairing is made of two clamshell-like halves composed of carbon fiber with an aluminum honeycomb core.

T+0:06:22: Stage 1 Entry Burn

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31298.png)
A subset of the first stage's Merlin 1D engines ignite for an entry burn to slow down for landing on SpaceX's drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. A final landing burn will occur just before touchdown.

T+0:08:07: SECO 1

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31299.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31299.jpg)
The second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket shuts down after reaching a preliminary low-altitude orbit. The upper stage and Es'hail 2 begin a coast phase scheduled to last more than 18 minutes before the second stage Merlin vacuum engine reignites.

T+0:08:16: Stage 1 Landing

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31300.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31300.jpg)
The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage booster touches down on SpaceX's drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

T+0:26:34: Second Ignition of Second Stage

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31301.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31301.jpg)
The Falcon 9's second stage Merlin engine restarts to propel the Es'hail 2 communications satellite into an elliptical transfer orbit.

T+0:27:29: SECO 2

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31302.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31302.jpg)
The Merlin engine shuts down after a short burn to put the Es'hail 2 satellite in the proper elliptical orbit for deployment.

T+0:32:29: Es'hail 2 Separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31303.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31303.jpg)
The Es'hail 2 satellite separates from the Falcon 9 rocket into an elliptical transfer orbit, on the way to a perch in geostationary orbit.

[свернуть]

Цитировать11/15/2018 21:46 Stephen Clark

T-minus 2 hours. It's a mostly cloudy afternoon here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where a Falcon 9 rocket is standing at pad 39A for liftoff with the commercial Es'hail 2 communications satellite.

The launch team is watching the weather as clouds stream overhead, as well as monitoring winds aloft to ensure they are acceptable for flight.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/361005.jpg) (https://photo.24liveblog.com/2123571779592298973/20181115184626_546082.jpeg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186343.jpg)Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1063146169021460480)

The clocks here at @NASAKennedy (https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy) are counting down to today's #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) launch. We're at T-1hr 40mins and COUNTING, indicting all is proceeding to the opening of the launch window at 15:46:00 EST (2046:00 UTC). #EsHail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/EsHail2?src=hash)

Цитировать11/15/2018 22:14 Stephen Clark

Final countdown preparations are underway at the Kennedy Space Center as teams prepare a Falcon 9 rocket for liftoff at 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT).

Fueling of the Falcon 9 rocket is expected to begin at 3:11 p.m. EST (2011 GMT), three minutes after a planned readiness check by SpaceX's launch conductor to verify the launch vehicle, payload and weather are "go" for liftoff.

Спойлер

Super-chilled, densified kerosene and liquid oxygen will be simultaneously pumped into the Falcon 9's first stage beginning at T-minus 35 minutes. Liquid oxygen will begin flowing into the second stage at T-minus 16 minutes.

In the final 10 minutes of the countdown, an automatic sequencer will command the Falcon 9's first stage engines to be chilled in preparation for ignition, the rocket's navigation computer will be configured for flight, its upper stage engine will run through a steering profile, and the launch pad's strongback will be retracted around 1.5 degrees away from the rocket.

[свернуть]

Цитировать11/15/2018 22:56 Stephen Clark

T-minus 50 minutes. Here are some statistics on today's launch:

[/li]
• 63rd launch of a Falcon 9 rocket since 2010
• 69th launch of Falcon rocket family since 2006
• 2nd launch of Falcon 9 Booster No. 47
• 51st Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral
• 109th launch from pad 39A
• 14th Falcon 9 launch from pad 39A
• 15th SpaceX launch from pad 39A
• 1st SpaceX launch for Es'hailSat
• 1st Mitsubishi Electric-built satellite launched by SpaceX
• 17th Falcon 9 launch of 2018
• 18th launch by SpaceX in 2018
• 18th launch overall from Cape Canaveral in 2018
• 7th flight of a Falcon 9 Block 5 first stage
• 10th flight of a Falcon 9 Block 5 second stage
• 40th attempt to land a Falcon booster
  

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186343.jpg)Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 12:02 (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1063160277141782528) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

Right now, weather is GREEN is no constraints. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #EsHail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/EsHail2?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186343.jpg)Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 12:08 (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1063161797669257216) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

GO for propellant load! #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #EsHail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/EsHail2?src=hash)

Цитировать11/15/2018 23:12 Stephen Clark

T-minus 35 minutes and counting. "Launch auto has started."

The beginning of the launch autosequence kicks off the first steps to begin pumping propellants into the 229-foot-tall Falcon 9 at pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

RP-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen are now being pumped into the Falcon 9 rocket. The liquid oxygen is chilled to near minus 340 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 206 degrees Celsius).

ЦитироватьSpaceX запустила ракету с катарским спутником связи
НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 15 ноября. /ТАСС/. Компания SpaceX в четверг осуществила запуск ракеты- носителя Falcon 9 с катарским спутником связи Es'hail-2 с космодрома на мысе Канаверал (штат Флорида). Трансляция идет на сайте компании.
Старт состоялся в 15:46 по времени Восточного побережья США (23:46 мск). Спутник, как ожидается, окажется на геостационарной орбите примерно через 33 минуты после запуска.
Первая ступень Falcon 9 ранее уже была применена при запуске канадского спутника Telstar 19V в июле. Специалисты SpaceX намерены вернуть ее на Землю.
Специалисты SpaceX намерены вернуть ее на Землю. Согласно плану, этот элемент носителя после отделения от второй ступени должен начать спуск, а потом на парашютах приземлиться на специальную дистанционно управляемую платформу в Атлантическом океане около побережья Флориды.
Спутник произведен японской компанией Mitsubishi Electric. Его оператором является фирма Es'hailSat, базирующаяся в Дохе. Аппарат предназначен для передачи сигналов телеканалов, а также для обеспечения "защищенной связи" для нужд бизнеса и властей на Ближнем Востоке и в Северной Африке.
В декабре 2013 года был введен в эксплуатацию аппарат Es'hail-1, который стал первым катарским спутником. Он был запущен с помощью ракеты-носителя Ariane 5 с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане.
Es'hail-1 был по большей части предназначен для передачи сигналов катарских телеканалов. Свое название космический аппарат получил от звезды Канопус, которую также называли в прошлом Сухейль. Это звезда ярче всего светит в конце лета - начале осени.

Цитироватьzandr пишет:
https://tass.ru/kosmos/5799261

ЦитироватьSpaceX запустила ракету с катарским спутником связи
...
Специалисты SpaceX намерены вернуть ее на Землю. Согласно плану, этот элемент носителя после отделения от второй ступени должен начать спуск, а потом на парашютах приземлиться на специальную дистанционно управляемую платформу в Атлантическом океане около побережья Флориды.
...

Цитировать11/16/2018 00:37 Stephen Clark

Ground controllers have received the first signals from the Es'hail 2 satellite, verifying it's alive after today's launch.

Цитироватьzandr пишет:
https://tass.ru/kosmos/5799261

ЦитироватьSpaceX запустила ракету с катарским спутником связи
НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 15 ноября. /ТАСС/. Компания SpaceX в четверг осуществила запуск ракеты- носителя Falcon 9 с катарским спутником связи Es'hail-2 с космодрома на мысе Канаверал (штат Флорида). Трансляция идет на сайте компании.
Старт состоялся в 15:46 по времени Восточного побережья США (23:46 мск). Спутник, как ожидается, окажется на геостационарной орбите примерно через 33 минуты после запуска.
Первая ступень Falcon 9 ранее уже была применена при запуске канадского спутника Telstar 19V в июле. Специалисты SpaceX намерены вернуть ее на Землю.
Специалисты SpaceX намерены вернуть ее на Землю. Согласно плану, этот элемент носителя после отделения от второй ступени должен начать спуск, а потом на парашютах приземлиться на специальную дистанционно управляемую платформу в Атлантическом океане около побережья Флориды.
Спутник произведен японской компанией Mitsubishi Electric. Его оператором является фирма Es'hailSat, базирующаяся в Дохе. Аппарат предназначен для передачи сигналов телеканалов, а также для обеспечения "защищенной связи" для нужд бизнеса и властей на Ближнем Востоке и в Северной Африке.
 В декабре 2013 года был введен в эксплуатацию аппарат Es'hail-1, который стал первым катарским спутником. Он был запущен с помощью ракеты-носителя Ariane 5 с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане.
Es'hail-1 был по большей части предназначен для передачи сигналов катарских телеканалов. Свое название космический аппарат получил от звезды Канопус, которую также называли в прошлом Сухейль. Это звезда ярче всего светит в конце лета - начале осени.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg)SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 12:46 (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1063171449458876416) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

Liftoff!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172310.jpg)


(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 12:47 (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1063171591440400384) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

LAUNCH! SpaceX Falcon 9 launches with Es'hail-2 from KSC 39A. Amazing launch camera view!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172306.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172307.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172308.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172309.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg)William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 13:19 (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1063179619724152833) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

F9/Es'hail2: Es'hail 2 separation confirmed! Planned transfer orbit 115 by 22,369 miles; and this completes the launch phase of today's mission

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 13:19 (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1063179603223764997) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

S/C Sep for Es'Hail-2 following Falcon 9 B1047.2 launch (and landing) -

ARTICLE

- by William Graham:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/11/spacex-falcon-9-launch-eshail-2-39a/ ... (https://t.co/DMZ8gdjbPy)

Includes photos from Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist (https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist))

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172318.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172316.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172317.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172320.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьNOVEMBER 15, 2018

ES'HAIL-2 MISSION

SpaceX successfully launched the Es'hail-2 satellite on Thursday, November 15 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff occurred at 3:46 p.m. EST, or 20:46 UTC, and the satellite was deployed to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) about 32 minutes after liftoff.

Falcon 9's first stage for the Es'hail-2 mission previously supported the Telstar 19 VANTAGE mission in July 2018. Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9's first stage on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

ЦитироватьLaunch & Landing of SpaceX Falcon 9 with Es'Hail 2

Space Videos (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF5d0UwSJJunRcRVzP1uDg)

Опубликовано: 15 нояб. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьEs'hail-2 deployment

SciNews (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU6ZwoTQtKWfz1urL7XcbA)

Опубликовано: 15 нояб. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьEs'hail-2 Mission
Доступ по ссылке

SpaceX (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI0Hodo5o5dUb67FeUjDeA)

Трансляция началась 95 минут назад

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186343.jpg)Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 44 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1063180411826782208)

Mission achievement. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172319.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185358.jpg)Es'hailSat‏ @eshailsat (https://twitter.com/eshailsat) 9:01 (https://twitter.com/eshailsat/status/1063114843077566464) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

We are proud (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125281.png)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172300.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184931.jpg)John Kraus‏ @johnkrausphotos (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos) 12:55 (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1063173658645090304) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

Liftoff! #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash)'s #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) rocket ascends from LC-39A with #Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash) at 3:46 P.M. this afternoon, as seen from the Kennedy Space Center Press Site.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172312.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184931.jpg)John Kraus‏ @johnkrausphotos (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos) 14:12 (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1063193170614337537) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

Cloud cover made for a dramatic liftoff of #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash)'s #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) rocket and #Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash) from LC-39A at 3:46 P.M. this afternoon. Here's a view from my remote camera placed outside the launchpad.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172302.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg)SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 17:25 (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1063241662636351489) - 15 нояб. 2018 г.

Falcon 9 launches Es'hail-2 to orbit, marking SpaceX's 18th launch of 2018.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172333.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172334.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172335.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1063275518743781376)

Two objects cataloged from today's Falcon 9 launch (Es'hailsat 2 and the F9 second stage), in 200 x 37688 km x 25.0 deg geotransfer orbit, confirming successful launch.

ЦитироватьSpaceX launches Qatar's Es'hail 2 communications satellite
November 15, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/11/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145152.jpg)
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off Thursday fr om pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket darted into a partly cloudy sky over Florida's Space Coast with a roar Thursday afternoon, carrying the Japanese-built Es'hail 2 communications satellite into space to beam commercial video and data services across the Middle East and expand connectivity for Qatar's military.

Finding a clearing after pervasive cloudiness much of the day, the Falcon 9 lit its nine Merlin main engines at 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT) Thursday and climbed away from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in the first daytime launch since May at the Florida spaceport.

The 229-foot-tall rocket arced to the east over the Atlantic Ocean to send Qatar's Es'hail 2 satellite toward an eventual perch more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) over the equator.

Generating 1.7 million pounds of thrust, the Falcon 9's kerosene-fueled first stage engines shut down around two-and-a-half minutes after liftoff, and the booster dropped away to begin a guided descent toward SpaceX's drone ship parked in the Atlantic Ocean a few hundred miles east of Cape Canaveral.

Aerodynamic grid fins opened near the top of the 15-story booster stage, and three of the rocket's engines ignited to slow down for a scorching re-entry back into Earth's atmosphere. In the final seconds of the booster's return, one of the engines reignited to brake for landing, and four legs deployed from the base of the rocket.

The rocket settled on SpaceX's landing platform "Of Course I Still Love You," the 31st time the company has recovered a booster after a launch toward orbit. Thursday's flight used a previously-flown first stage that launched July 22 carrying a Canadian-owned telecom satellite, then landed at sea to be launched again.

The successful landing after Thursday's launch makes the booster available for a third mission.

While the first stage came back to Earth, the Falcon 9's second stage finished the trip into orbit, gaining enough speed to enter a parking orbit around eight minutes into the flight. After an 18-minute coast across the Atlantic, the upper stage fired its single Merlin engine again for less than a minute, aiming to send the Es'hail 2 spacecraft into an elliptical geostationary transfer orbit ranging between 115 miles (185 kilometers) and 22,369 miles (36,000 kilometers) above Earth, with an inclination of 25 degrees.

SpaceX confirmed the rocket achieved an on-target orbit, and live video from the Falcon 9 second stage showed the Es'hail 2 satellite separating from its launcher over a South African tracking station around 32-and-a-half minutes after liftoff. Officials later said ground controllers received the first signals from Es'hail 2, verifying its health status in orbit.

Es'hail 2 was built in Japan by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and is owned by Qatar's national satellite communications company, Es'hailSat. Equipped with Ku-band and Ka-band transponders, Es'hail 2 will provide television broadcasts, broadband connectivity and other services to Qatar and neighboring parts of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

The satellite weighed around 11,700 pounds (5,300 kilograms) with its on-board propellants, according to Zoubair Kachri, Es'hailSat's technical vice president.

The spacecraft also carries the first two amateur radio antennas to fly in geostationary orbit, linking hobbyists across a third of the Earth's surface in a single hop from as far west as Brazil and as far east as Thailand.

Спойлер

Es'hailSat said earlier this year that the new satellite features "sophisticated anti-jamming capabilities" to curb interference and will significantly expand the company's offerings currently provided by Es'hail 1, which launched in 2013 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.

In a response to written questions, Kachri said Es'hail 2 will also further develop Qatar's domestic space capabilities because the new satellite will be operated from a new control center in the country.

Es'hail 2 also carries a dedicated telecommunications payload dedicated to the Qatari government and military, Kachri said, without elaborating on its specific uses.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145147.jpg)
Artist's concept of Es'hail 2. Credit: Es'hailSat

The satellite will use its own thruster to maneuver into a circular geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles over the equator. Es'hail 2 will park itself at 26 degrees east longitude, wh ere its orbital velocity will null out to match the rate of Earth's rotation, allowing the craft to hover in the same position of the sky over the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Es'hail will enter service around the end of January to begin its planned 15-year lifetime.

Thursday's launch was the 18th by SpaceX this year, matching the company's total tally last year.

Four more SpaceX launches are planned by the end of 2018, and the next Falcon 9 flight is scheduled for Monday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on a rideshare mission arranged by Seattle-based Spaceflight carrying 64 small satellites into polar orbit.

Two Falcon 9 launches will follow Dec. 4 and Dec. 15 from Cape Canaveral's pad 40 with a Dragon supply ship for the International Space Station and a U.S. Air Force GPS navigation satellite.

On Dec. 30, SpaceX plans its final launch of the year from California with Iridium's final set of 10 voice and data relay satellites, wrapping up a two-year-long sequence of launches to upgrade the telecom company's previously-aging network.

Meanwhile, work at pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center will focus on preparations for the first test launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon astronaut transport ship. Developed under contract to NASA, the Crew Dragon could launch on its first orbital demo flight — without a crew aboard — as soon as early January on top of a Falcon 9 rocket from pad 39A.

If the test flight goes well, a follow-up launch with two astronauts could happen as soon as June, again from pad 39A, which was once the starting point for crew riding Saturn 5 moon rockets and space shuttles.

Nearby pad 40 will be used for most SpaceX launches originating from Florida in the coming months, while pad 39A is reserved for crew missions and satellite launches with the larger Falcon Heavy rocket.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/145153.jpg)
The previously-flown Falcon 9 first stage used on the Es'hail 2 launch successfully landed on SpaceX's drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Credit: SpaceX

Thursday's launch with Es'hail 2 was the seventh flight of a Falcon 9 Block 5 first stage, an upgraded version of the Falcon 9 rocket featuring reliability and reusability enhancements.

SpaceX launched the inaugural Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket May 11 with Bangladesh's first communications satellite. Officials heralded the successful debut as pivotal in allowing SpaceX to reduce the time and money needed to turn around a recovered booster for another mission.

The first Block 5 booster from the May 11 mission was re-flown in August during the launch of the Indonesian Merah Putih communications satellite.

SpaceX re-flew another Block 5 first stage last month on a mission carrying Argentina's SAOCOM 1A radar observation satellite into orbit — following an earlier launch and recovery of the same booster in July.

The launch with Es'hail 2 was the third flight to reuse a Block 5 booster a second time. SpaceX plans to take another step forward in rocket reusability with Monday's launch from California, when a Block 5 first stage will be flown a third time, using the same vehicle that launched the Bangabandhu 1 and Merah Putih comsats earlier in the year.

SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk told reporters in May that Block 5 boosters could be reused up to 10 times without refurbishment, and 100 times with periodic overhauls.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьЧебурашка пишет:
Странно, что при такой малой массе агрегата ступень не вренулась на космодром, а села в океана.

ЦитироватьThe satellite weighed around 11,700 pounds (5,300 kilograms) with its on-board propellants, according to Zoubair Kachri, Es'hailSat's technical vice president.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31566.jpg)Brady Kenniston‏ @TheFavoritist (https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist) 44 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist/status/1063455891352113153)

Inside the fence remote camera views of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launching Es'hail-2!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172357.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172358.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172359.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg)SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 11 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1063560870683271168)

More photos from yesterday's Falcon 9 launch →
http://flickr.com/spacex  (https://t.co/095WHX44BX)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172396.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172397.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184894.jpg)Julia‏ @julia_bergeron (https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron) 10:09 (https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1064581500849537024) - 19 нояб. 2018 г.

OCISLY is finally on the approach to Jetty. #SpaceXFleet (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceXFleet?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172523.jpg)


10:23 (https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1064585057824837632) - 19 нояб. 2018 г.

A little closer now! #SpaceXFleet (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceXFleet?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172524.jpg)


10:34 (https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1064587647933386753) - 19 нояб. 2018 г.

OCISLY is coming your way @RustysInThePort (https://twitter.com/RustysInThePort)!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172527.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/30256.jpg)Tom McCool‏ @Cygnusx112 (https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112) 10:44 (https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112/status/1064590202470100994) - 19 нояб. 2018 г.

A few pictures of the #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) booster returning to #PortCanaveral (https://twitter.com/hashtag/PortCanaveral?src=hash) It was used for the launch of #Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172530.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172532.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172531.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172529.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184894.jpg)Julia‏ @julia_bergeron (https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron) 11:08 (https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1064596360962428928) - 19 нояб. 2018 г.

Birds of a feather flock together. The twice flown and landed @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) Falcon 9 first stage booster from #Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash) is docking in @PortCanaveral (https://twitter.com/PortCanaveral) on a beautiful afternoon.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172518.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184894.jpg)Julia‏ @julia_bergeron (https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron) 5:24 (https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1065234615424753665) - 21 нояб. 2018 г.

It appears that the legs are now removed from the #Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash) booster so that they can lower it onto the transporter today. Perhaps retracting legs will be a thing in 2019.
#SpaceXFleet (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceXFleet?src=hash) #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172345.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/30256.jpg)Tom McCool‏ @Cygnusx112 (https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112) 8:58 (https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112/status/1065288369985527809) - 21 нояб. 2018 г.

#SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) just took the booster used for the #Eshail2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eshail2?src=hash) launch from vertical to horizontal for transport. Video will be posted later.
#Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172363.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172362.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172360.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172361.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSpaceX - B1047 Flight Two Lift 11-19-2018

USLaunchReport (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hWqb0u1eKgYmVryCEyJYA)

Опубликовано: 23 нояб. 2018 г.

Instead of making a long video, we are doing three shorts, Lift, Load and Transport.

ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 Returns to Port Canaveral After Es'Hail2 Launch (Time Lapse)

Stephen Marr (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7LhXS9i5JIH3yl2qEAxZlw)

Опубликовано: 21 нояб. 2018 г.

The SpaceX drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You, returned Monday 11/19/18 carrying the Falcon 9 first stage that launched the Es'Hail2 satellite to geostationary transfer orbit.

I managed to capture more of the recovery process than ever before. The only part I missed was the removal of the legs. From what I've heard, they were removed before any of the other photographers showed up on the 3rd day.

So, it goes like this:
Day 1: booster arrival and not much else
Day 2: the booster was lifted off the drone ship and placed on its stand on land
Day 3: the booster is taken horizontal and placed onto the transporter. Once it was down, I had to head home and then on to work.

I'm super stoked about how this came out. The whole recovery process is really interesting, and it's neat to see it all crammed into 2 minutes.

ЦитироватьSpaceX - B1047 Flight Two Load - Telephoto 11-20-2018

USLaunchReport (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hWqb0u1eKgYmVryCEyJYA)

Опубликовано: 27 нояб. 2018 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 28 нояб. (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1067598087965892609)

Finally, orbital data for Es'hailsat-2, showing it on station in GEO at 24.0E

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg)SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1068567439561056256)

Earlier this month, Falcon 9 landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship after launching the Es'hail-2 satellite to orbit. (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125291.png)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172881.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172880.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184901.jpg)PY2SDR‏ @py2sdr (https://twitter.com/py2sdr) 19 дек. (https://twitter.com/py2sdr/status/1075534977704583169)


Modulation on Es'Hail-2 10.706 GHz beacon carrier just turned off.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184930.jpg)AMSAT-DL‏ @amsatdl (https://twitter.com/amsatdl) 11 ч.11 часов назад (https://twitter.com/amsatdl/status/1076969538586112000)


@amsatdl (https://twitter.com/amsatdl) @AmsatUK (https://twitter.com/AmsatUK) No a secret anymore, #P4A (https://twitter.com/hashtag/P4A?src=hash) NB and WB transponder testing today. Transponder settings (including gain, AGC, ALC, decay and attack, etc.) will be exercised as part of IOT testing.. We kindly ask not to even think about transmitting on S-band Uplink(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125622.png)Thanks..

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185873.jpg)Rob Janssen‏ @pe1chl (https://twitter.com/pe1chl) 2 ч.2 часа назад (https://twitter.com/pe1chl/status/1077109783864455168)


Downlink signal strength has exceeded my expectations...