SpaceX is able to launch the Inmarsat I-6 F2 satellite tv for pc into geostationary switch orbit atop a Falcon 9. The automobile will raise off from House Launch Advanced 40 (SLC-40) on the Cape Canaveral House Drive Station in Florida, with the 89-minute lengthy launch window opening on Feb. 17 at 10:59 PM EST (03:59 UTC on Feb. 18). This launch will mark 2023’s twenty fourth orbital launch try and SpaceX’s twelfth of the 12 months — a median launch cadence of 4.1 days per launch.
SLC-40 supported the Starlink Group 5-4 mission simply 5.95 days earlier than the deliberate liftoff time of this mission; it will mark the third-fastest turnaround of the pad after 5.15 days between the Amazonas Nexus mission and Starlink Group 5-4 and 5.63 days between Hakuto-R Mission 1 and O3b mPOWER 1 & 2.
Citing the thick cloud layers rule and cumulus cloud rule, House Launch Delta 45 lists the likelihood of violating climate constraints to be 25%. Within the occasion of a delay, one other launch alternative exists 24 hours later, the place climate improves to a 15% likelihood of violating climate constraints.
The Inmarsat I-6 F2 payload is a dual-payload satellite tv for pc that may transmit indicators in each L-band and Ka-band frequencies. It’s a part of Inmarsat’s community of the long run, ORCHESTRA, which is able to present seamless, high-capacity, low-latency connectivity for world mobility.
The I-6 F2 satellite tv for pc was constructed by Airbus and is the second I-6 satellite tv for pc constructed; the primary satellite tv for pc, I-6 F1, was launched atop an H-IIA rocket in December 2021. Inmarsat-6 F2 will present protection over the Atlantic Ocean and will probably be supported by two new floor station antennas in Spain.
Inmarsat designed the payload to supply most flexibility and adaptableness for its clients. It incorporates a multi-beam, digitally processed payload that may dynamically allocate capability to completely different areas and consumer teams.
It additionally has a software-defined radio that may swap between L-band and Ka-band modes relying on the demand and availability of the spectrum. This can enable the satellite tv for pc to supply full routing flexibility over greater than 8,000 channels and dynamic energy allocation of greater than 200 spot beams within the L-band.
The I-6 F2 payload is a key part of Inmarsat’s ORCHESTRA community, which is able to combine geostationary, low Earth orbit, and terrestrial 5G applied sciences right into a single resolution. ORCHESTRA will leverage the strengths of every know-how to ship the most effective efficiency and consumer expertise for various functions and environments. This constellation can even allow dynamic mesh connectivity, permitting satellites and floor stations to speak with one another and share assets.
Inmarsat I-6 F2 being ready for thermal vacuum testing. (Credit score: Airbus)
With the I-6 F2 payload, Inmarsat goals to reinforce its providers and supply connectivity for its clients within the aviation, maritime, authorities, enterprise, and humanitarian sectors. The I-6 F2 payload will assist Inmarsat’s ELERA and World Xpress community parts of ORCHESTRA.
The satellite tv for pc lots 5,500 kg and is constructed on the Airbus Eurostar-3000EOR satellite tv for pc bus. It makes use of the Fakel SPT140D propulsion unit and has two deployable photo voltaic arrays.
Inmarsat-6 F2 will sit within the payload fairing of Falcon 9, hooked up to the second stage. Following payload fairing separation, each fairing halves will softly splash down within the ocean and be recovered by SpaceX’s multi-purpose restoration vessel Bob.
Serving as the primary stage, B1077 will probably be flying for the third time, with its earlier flight occurring simply 31 days in the past on the GPS-III-SV06 mission. The booster’s first flight was on the Crew-5 mission, which launched in October 2022.
Following first stage separation, B1077 will conduct two burns. First, the booster will ignite three of its engines for the entry burn, slowing it down forward of atmospheric reentry. Shortly after, it’s going to ignite its single-center engine, which is able to softly contact the booster down on Simply Learn the Directions (JRTI).
Departure! Simply Learn the Directions droneship is underway for the Inmarsat I-6 F2 mission! Bob is towing and also will get better the fairing.https://t.co/icguJj64A8 pic.twitter.com/2iMIMEIGZo
— Gav Cornwell (@SpaceOffshore) February 13, 2023
The now acquainted Falcon 9 countdown sequence will start at T-38 minutes when the Launch Director will confirm that the automobile is go for propellant loading. Three minutes later, at T-35 minutes, SpaceX will start loading subcooled RP-1 onto each the primary stage and the second stage, in addition to superchilled liquid oxygen (LOX) onto the primary stage.
Round T-20 minutes, a big cloud will probably be vented from the sturdy again, signifying the second stage is totally fueled with RP-1 and is able to be full of LOX. This huge vent from the sturdy again is the purging and cooling of the propellant traces forward of stage two LOX load, which begins at T-16 minutes.
At T-7 minutes, the Falcon 9 will run small quantities of liquid oxygen via the 9 Merlin 1D engines on the primary stage. Referred to as engine chill, this course of is completed to chill the engines slowly, making certain that they don’t crack from thermal shock when superchilled LOX flows via them at engine ignition.
At T-1 minute, Falcon 9 will enter startup and start tank pressurization for flight. Presently, the Falcon 9 is in control of its countdown.
45 seconds earlier than launch, the Launch Director will confirm that every one programs are go for launch. Handbook aborts may be referred to as by the launch operators up till T-10 seconds, whereas after T-10 seconds, technical aborts will solely be dealt with by the automobile itself and never the bottom operators.
At T-3 seconds, the booster’s flight laptop will command the ignition of the primary stage’s 9 Merlin 1D engines. The engines on the primary stage ignite in pairs to cut back startup transients and hundreds on the automobile.
Falcon 9 shortly after liftoff on the Starlink Group 4-36 mission in October 2022. (Credit score: SpaceX)
As soon as Falcon 9 has ensured that every one programs are nominal, it’s going to command the hydraulic clamps on the base of the automobile to launch, letting the Falcon 9 raise off from the pad.
B1077 will burn for 2 minutes and 31 seconds earlier than it’s going to command shutdown of all 9 of its engines. The phases will then separate, and the second stage will ignite its single vacuum-optimized Merlin engine, in an occasion often known as SES-1. At T+3:23, the fairing halves will deploy from the second stage, exposing the Inmarsat I-6 F2 payload to the vacuum of area.
The second stage will proceed burning till roughly T+8:09 when it’s going to then shut down the MVac engine. 33 seconds later, B1077 will land atop JRTI, changing into B1077-4. This can mark SpaceX’s 99th consecutive profitable touchdown.
After an 18-minute lengthy coast, the second stage will ignite once more for 63 seconds earlier than shutting down. 5 minutes later, the satellite tv for pc will probably be deployed, marking SpaceX’s 182nd consecutive profitable launch.
This launch will mark SpaceX’s fifth launch of February. The subsequent two launches deliberate from the area coast embrace Starlink Group 6-1 (the primary batch of Starlink v2.0 satellites) and Crew-6.
(Lead picture: Falcon 9 at SLC-40 earlier than launching Inmarsat I-6 F2. Credit score: Stephen Marr for NSF)
