Cosmic Penguin
Geek Penguin in GTO
A milestone launch is now coming up for America's premium spaceflight logistics carrier (*), and a rather interesting one for ULA too!
Since its inception between Lockheed Martin and Boeing back in December 2006, United Launch Alliance has been rather busy with carrying satellites, probes and other things to Earth orbit and beyond with their Atlas and Delta rockets. Today, they have reached their 100th launch landmark.
Considering that many people lament the few numbers of commercial launch contracts won by ULA, it is ironic that today's launch is one of the few commercial satellite launches they have, and the first one to geostationary orbit since 2009! And today's customer, the Mexican Government's communication office, certainly has high expectations of this one going right, for they have just been burned by another launch service provider a few months ago!
The Mexican Government has been working on a new satellite Internet and communication system for the past decade, one that can cover the vastly different landscapes of the iconic Central American nation. The MEXSAT system was planned to have 3 satellites, with the fixed link portion covered by MexSat-3 launched back in December 2012.
The mobile communication section would have been covered by 2 satellites with huge dishes. The Mexicans will have to wait for a longer while for both of them though, thanks to them being the latest victim of the Great Proton Curse (TM). On this May 16th, MexSat-1 ended up in the atmosphere after the Proton rocket's 3rd stage vernier engine failed. Luckily for them they have another satellite available rather soon, and now MexSat-2 is sitting on top of the 57th Atlas V rocket to fly. Its alternative name, Morelos-3, is a re-continuation of the Morelos-1/2 series satellites (Mexico's first communication satellites) that flew back in 1985 with Space Shuttle Discovery and Atlantis.
For me, who at one time almost considered the Atlas V as my waifu
rofl, this October is surely a treat to watch, for there will be three, yes three Atlas V launches coming up! After this one, the 2nd one will fly in just 6 days time with the latest toy for the NRO from California. And this very pad at the Cape will see another launch on the 30th with another GPS satellite.
Good luck to all!
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Launch coverage: (starts 5:48 am EDT / 09:48 UTC)
Payload:Morelos-3 will be part of the Mexsat constellation of satellites owned by Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes and operated by Telecomunicaciones de Mexico that delivers advanced telecommunications throughout Mexico.
The Mexsat program provides secure communications for Mexico’s national security needs in addition to providing communications to rural zones, as a complement to other existing networks. These satellite communication services include education and health programs, voice, data, video, and internet services.
PAYLOAD
MexSat-2 communication satellite:
Mission Summary
Boeing announced in December 2010 that it has received a contract for approximately $1 billion from the government of Mexico to deliver an end-to-end satellite communications system. The system, known as MEXSAT, will consist of three satellites, two ground sites, associated network operations systems and reference user terminals. MEXSAT will provide secure communications for Mexico’s national security needs, as well as enhanced coverage for the country’s civil telecommunications.
Under the contract, Boeing will deliver a complete turnkey satellite system comprised of Boeing 702HP geomobile satellites MEXSAT-1 and MEXSAT-2 and one extended C- and Ku-band satellite, MEXSAT-3, which will provide fixed satellite services from geosynchronous orbit. MEXSAT-3 is scheduled to launch first, at the end of 2012.
Each Boeing 702HP satellite will supply 14 kilowatts of power through five-panel solar array wings that use high-efficiency, ultra triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells. Both satellites will carry a 22-meter L-band reflector for mobile satellite services, complemented by a 2-meter Ku-band antenna.
Boeing also will develop two ground sites in Mexico with advanced beam-forming flexibility to direct mobile user spot beams to government agencies operating in Mexico and its patrimonial seas, including the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
The MEXSAT 2 satellite is reportedly the modified SkyTerra 2 satellite.
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Parameter | Value
Characteristics|
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Launch Vehicle:
The Atlas 5 was developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services as part of the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Each Atlas 5 rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.
The Atlas 5 launcher will fly in the so-called 421 configuration, denoting a 4.2-meter payload fairing, 2 strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.
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Launch Timeline & Ground Track:
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on October 2, 2015 (6 a.m.)
Scattered thunderstorms. High 29C. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 60%.
Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
6 AM|25°C|24°C|95%|0%|0%|77%|1001 hPa|10 km/h NW|
Mostly Cloudy
Links:
Since its inception between Lockheed Martin and Boeing back in December 2006, United Launch Alliance has been rather busy with carrying satellites, probes and other things to Earth orbit and beyond with their Atlas and Delta rockets. Today, they have reached their 100th launch landmark.
Considering that many people lament the few numbers of commercial launch contracts won by ULA, it is ironic that today's launch is one of the few commercial satellite launches they have, and the first one to geostationary orbit since 2009! And today's customer, the Mexican Government's communication office, certainly has high expectations of this one going right, for they have just been burned by another launch service provider a few months ago!
The Mexican Government has been working on a new satellite Internet and communication system for the past decade, one that can cover the vastly different landscapes of the iconic Central American nation. The MEXSAT system was planned to have 3 satellites, with the fixed link portion covered by MexSat-3 launched back in December 2012.
The mobile communication section would have been covered by 2 satellites with huge dishes. The Mexicans will have to wait for a longer while for both of them though, thanks to them being the latest victim of the Great Proton Curse (TM). On this May 16th, MexSat-1 ended up in the atmosphere after the Proton rocket's 3rd stage vernier engine failed. Luckily for them they have another satellite available rather soon, and now MexSat-2 is sitting on top of the 57th Atlas V rocket to fly. Its alternative name, Morelos-3, is a re-continuation of the Morelos-1/2 series satellites (Mexico's first communication satellites) that flew back in 1985 with Space Shuttle Discovery and Atlantis.
For me, who at one time almost considered the Atlas V as my waifu
rofl, this October is surely a treat to watch, for there will be three, yes three Atlas V launches coming up! After this one, the 2nd one will fly in just 6 days time with the latest toy for the NRO from California. And this very pad at the Cape will see another launch on the 30th with another GPS satellite.Good luck to all!
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Launch date:
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October 2, 2015
Window open:
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10:08 UTC / 6:08 a.m. EDT
Window close:
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10:28 UTC / 6:28 a.m. EDT
Launch site:
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SLC-41, CCAFS, Florida
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[highlight]L[eventtimer]2015-10-02 10:08:00;%c%%ddd%/%hh%:%mm%:%ss%[/eventtimer][/highlight]
Mission Insignia
Launch coverage: (starts 5:48 am EDT / 09:48 UTC)
- ULA webcast: http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx
- ULA webcast 2: http://cmc-i.akamaihd.net/hls/live/201845/launch/index-launch.m3u8
- Spaceflight Now: http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/10/01/av-059-journal/
Payload:Morelos-3 will be part of the Mexsat constellation of satellites owned by Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes and operated by Telecomunicaciones de Mexico that delivers advanced telecommunications throughout Mexico.
The Mexsat program provides secure communications for Mexico’s national security needs in addition to providing communications to rural zones, as a complement to other existing networks. These satellite communication services include education and health programs, voice, data, video, and internet services.
PAYLOAD
MexSat-2 communication satellite:
Mission Summary
Boeing announced in December 2010 that it has received a contract for approximately $1 billion from the government of Mexico to deliver an end-to-end satellite communications system. The system, known as MEXSAT, will consist of three satellites, two ground sites, associated network operations systems and reference user terminals. MEXSAT will provide secure communications for Mexico’s national security needs, as well as enhanced coverage for the country’s civil telecommunications.
Under the contract, Boeing will deliver a complete turnkey satellite system comprised of Boeing 702HP geomobile satellites MEXSAT-1 and MEXSAT-2 and one extended C- and Ku-band satellite, MEXSAT-3, which will provide fixed satellite services from geosynchronous orbit. MEXSAT-3 is scheduled to launch first, at the end of 2012.
Each Boeing 702HP satellite will supply 14 kilowatts of power through five-panel solar array wings that use high-efficiency, ultra triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells. Both satellites will carry a 22-meter L-band reflector for mobile satellite services, complemented by a 2-meter Ku-band antenna.
Boeing also will develop two ground sites in Mexico with advanced beam-forming flexibility to direct mobile user spot beams to government agencies operating in Mexico and its patrimonial seas, including the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
The MEXSAT 2 satellite is reportedly the modified SkyTerra 2 satellite.
Parameter | Value
Working Orbit:
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GEO
Orbital Location:
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116.8° West
Coverage:
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Mexico
ApA at separation:
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35786 km
PeA at separation:
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4793 km
Inc at separation:
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27.0°MexSat-2
Customer:
|- Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, Government of Mexico
Prime contractor:
|- Boeing
Platform:
|- BSS-702HP
Mass at Separation:
|- 5325 kg
Dry Mass:
|- 3200 kg
Stabilization:
|- 3 axis stabilized
Dimensions (stowed):
|- 9 x 3 x 4 meters
Batteries:
|- Two wings each with five panels of ultra triple junction gallium arsenide solar cells, providing 13 kW at end of life
Payload:
|- L-band transponders
- Ku-band transponders
- C-band transponders
Life time:
|- 15 years
Coverage:
|- ?
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Launch Vehicle:
The Atlas 5 was developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services as part of the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Each Atlas 5 rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.
The Atlas 5 launcher will fly in the so-called 421 configuration, denoting a 4.2-meter payload fairing, 2 strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.
Specifications
Gross mass:
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- 414900 kg (914000 lb)
Payload:
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- 14060 kg (31000 lb) LEO
- 6890 kg (15180 lb) GTO
Height:
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- 58.30 m (191.20 ft)
Diameter:
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- 3.81 m (12.49 ft)
Span:
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- 3.81 m (12.49 ft)
Thrust:
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- 3827.00 kN (860343 lbf)
Launch Timeline & Ground Track:
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on October 2, 2015 (6 a.m.)
Scattered thunderstorms. High 29C. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 60%.
6 AM|25°C|24°C|95%|0%|0%|77%|1001 hPa|10 km/h NW|
Links:
