SpaceX to launch second Hotbird satellite for Eutelsat

Date:
Wed, 02 Nov 2022 22:49:22 +0000

Description:
SpaceX is ready for its 51st launch of 2022 with Eutelsats Hotbird-13G telecommunication satellite using The post SpaceX to launch second Hotbird satellite for Eutelsat appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .

FULL STORY ======================================================================

SpaceX is ready for its 51st launch of 2022 with Eutelsats Hotbird-13G telecommunication satellite using a flight-proven Falcon 9 to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The Falcon 9 will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), in a 116-minute long window that opens at 11:26 PM EDT on Nov. 2 (03:26 UTC on Nov. 3).

Hotbird-13G is the second of three SpaceX flights for Eutelsat planned for 2022, including the previously launched Hotbird-13F satellite and the
upcoming Eutelsat-10B mission. Hotbird-13G is SpaceXs fourth overall mission for Eutelsat.





Eutelsats Hotbird-13G is also the third of four Eutelsat satellites launching in 2022, including the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS satellite launched on Ariane 5
in September. Eutelsat is a leading broadband communications satellite
company operating satellites in geostationary (GEO) and soon low Earth
orbits.

The company was founded in 1977 by Europe as the beginning of its satellite communications service industry. In partnership with ESA, the company
launched its first satellite in 1983 with the Eutelsat I-F1 using an Ariane 1 rocket. With three successful launches using an Ariane 3, the Eutelsat I satellite fleet was completed in 1988.

The Eutelsat II began launching two years later, with its final successful launch in 1992. Eutelsat converted the sixth satellite in the Eutelsat II fleet into the first Hotbird satellite. Hotbird was modified to conduct direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting when compared to the other Eutelsat satellites. Artists impression of the twin Hotbird satellites in orbit. (Credit: ESA/Eutelsat/Airbus)

Since then, Eutelsat has launched numerous satellites into orbit, expanding its coverage worldwide. Proton, Atlas, Delta, Ariane, Falcon, Chang Zhang, Ariane, and Zenit rockets have supported previous Eutelsat satellite
launches. In 2015 and 2016, Eutelsat and Asian satellite provider ABS each launched two satellites marking the first and second flights on a Falcon 9 rocket. See Also Hotbird-13G Updates NSF Store SpaceX Missions Section Click here to Join L2

Hotbird-13G is the second in a series of three missions contracted with SpaceX, including Hotbird-13F, 13G, and Eutelsat-10B. These satellites were set to launch on the Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 launch vehicles in 2021 and 2022. However, with Ariane 6s maiden flight now NET Q4 2023 , this caused Eutelsat to move the satellites to Falcon 9 for launch. ESA also made this move with the Hera and Euclid missions, both of which were set to launch on Ariane 6 or Soyuz rockets.

As a leading satellite operator, Eutelsat marked many firsts with some of its satellites in the past few years. The Eutelsat W3A satellite was the first to use the Airbus Eurostar-3000 series, a highly-reliable satellite bus used by multiple providers and future Eutelsat satellites. In partnership with ESA
and Airbus, the Eutelsat Quantum satellite is an experimental satellite with
a reconfigurable software payload. This satellite will test how a satellite can change its capabilities while in orbit with only software.

Eutelsats first launch in 2022 was the Konnect VHTS satellite , using the newly introduced Spacebus-NEO with the most powerful onboard digital
processor in orbit. The most recent launch for the company was the
Hotbird-13F satellite on a flight-proven Falcon 9 (B1069-3) on Oct. 15 .

Hotbird-13F and 13G are two nearly identical satellites built by Airbus using the brand-new all-electric Eurostar-NEO satellite bus. Eutelsat ordered the two satellites in late 2018 as the first customer of the Eurostar-NEO bus.
The bus originated from the Eurostar-3000 Electric Orbit Raising (EOR) as a more evolved version. Hotbird-13G undergoes mechanical testing. (Credit: ESA/Eutelsat/Airbus)

A recent move in the industry is to use all-electric satellite buses to
remove the standard propulsion module to cut the mass of any satellite. This mass reduction allows customers to use heavier, more powerful payloads while maintaining a lower overall mass. While allowing for larger payloads, this
has the downside of much longer orbital raising from GTO to GEO.

Eutelsat will use the larger payloads to its advantage by using Hotbird-13F and 13G to replace the Hotbird-8, 9, and 10 satellites in the 13-degree east orbital position. The two metric-ton payloads will have the same power with more resistance to jamming as the original three satellites while only using two.

The two satellites have a mass of 4,500 kg with 80-Ku band transponders. Hotbird-13G also houses an L-band for the European GNSS Agency (GSA) as EGNOS GEO-4. EGNOS GEO-4 will improve global positioning systems for the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). To power the spacecraft, twin solar
arrays will generate 22 kW of power.

Airbus completed Hotbird-13F and 13G in early 2022. After a few months of testing, 13F was the first to be shipped in September 2022 for its October 2022 launch. A few hours after 13Fs launch, an Airbus BelugaST delivered 13G to CCSFS. At CCSFS, Hotbird-13G underwent its final testing and was
integrated onto the payload adapter of the Falcon 9. The satellite was encapsulated in Falcon 9s 5.2-meter diameter payload fairing. Spotted! Airbus #EarthObservation satellite captures @Airbus #Beluga aircraft unloading the Airbus-built #HOTBIRD 13G telecoms satellite at Kennedy Space Centre. Photo
by #PliadesNeo pic.twitter.com/wJJqYX29qU

Airbus Space (@AirbusSpace) October 18, 2022



2022 has been a record-shattering year regarding launches and reusability milestones for SpaceX. On Monday, SpaceX launched its 50th rocket of the
year, a Falcon Heavy carrying the USSF-44 mission. Hotbird-13Gs mission will mark the 50th launch of a Falcon 9 in a single calendar year, continuing to break the Soyuz-Us record with 47 launches in 1979.

A large part of SpaceXs ability to launch quickly is reusing many components of the Falcon 9. On this flight, flight-proven booster B1067 will be supporting its seventh mission. B1067 previously supported SpaceX CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat-5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, and Starlink Group 4-34. This time, B1067 will have a turnaround time of 46 days.

After supporting 4-34, B1067 landed on the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions (JRTI) and was brought back to Port Canaveral on Sept. 23. It
was offloaded the same day and placed horizontally on Sept. 27. B1067 was moved to SpaceXs HangerX facility at Robert Roads for refurbishments. On Oct. 21, B1067 was spotted on the move for final refurbishment without grid fins
or a second stage. B1067 rolling out at KSC. Notice lack of grid fins and no second stage attached so don't expect this one to launch just yet, gonna need a bit more work to get ready for flight. It's likely for one of the launches next month. https://t.co/7y9NWgpAVY

Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera (Alex) (@Alexphysics13) October 21, 2022



With refurbishments complete, B1067 and its second stage were transported to the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) at SLC-40 for final assembly. Along with its payload, the duo was placed on the Transporter/Erector (T/E). For launch, Falcon 9 and the T/E rolled out to the pad and was raised vertically.

Final launch preparations begin 38 minutes before launch with an electronic Go/No-Go poll for propellant loading. If a go for launch is given, launch control will start the auto-launch sequence allowing RP-1 loading on both stages and LOX on the first stage.

Stage two RP-1 loading is complete around 20 minutes before launch. Four minutes later, stage two LOX load begins. At T-7 minutes, the Falcon 9 first stage chills its engines with liquid oxygen to ensure there are no thermal shocks to the engines at ignition. The T/E retracts to the launch position of 88.2 degrees at T-4 minutes and 30 seconds.

Propellant loading is complete at T-2 minutes. Two significant events occur simultaneously a minute later: the flight computers enter startup, and the propellant tanks begin to pressurize to flight levels. The Launch Director gives the final go for launch 45 seconds before liftoff.

At T-3 seconds, the nine first-stage engines are commanded to ignite. A
second later, the engines ignite and begin a final health check. Once the engines are verified to be healthy and producing full thrust, the hydraulic hold-down clamps and the T/E retract, allowing liftoff. Falcon 9 launches Hotbird-13F in October 2022. (Credit: Stephen Marr for NSF)

Shortly after liftoff, Falcon 9 begins a pitch maneuver due east, reaching
its proper flight profile. A minute and 12 seconds into the flight, Falcon 9 reaches maximum aerodynamic pressure (Max-Q).

After burning for two minutes and 32 seconds, the nine first-stage engines shut down. Three seconds later, the first and second stages separate,
followed by Second Engine Start (SES)-1 eight seconds later. The payload fairing protecting the satellite is no longer needed and is jettisoned three minutes and 23 seconds into the flight.

As stage two continues toward orbit, stage one begins a short coast period.
At T+6 minutes and 30 seconds, stage one begins its reentry burn. Engines
one, five, and nine reignite for a 25-second burn to slow the first stage
down and protect itself from the stresses of atmospheric reentry.

Eight minutes and eight seconds into the flight, the second-stage engine
shuts down. The second stage is then in a low Earth parking orbit before beginning a second burn. Stage one begins its landing burn 14 seconds later. Roughly 22 seconds later, the first stage will gently touchdown on the deck
of JRTI. JRTI left Port Canaveral on Oct.29 and is stationed ~670 km downrange.

If successful, B1067-7 will become B1067-8 and return to Port Canaveral to be refurbished for a future mission. B1062-3 awaits on JRTI after supporting GPS-III-SV05. (Credit: SpaceX)

After coasting for 21 minutes, the second-stage engine reignites for roughly 50-seconds to reach an elliptical GTO. Another short six-minute coast will take place, and the second stage will release Hotbird-13G into GTO.

Once separating from the second stage, Hotbird-13G will begin systems activation and solar array deployment. Over the next few months, Hotbird-13G will use its electric propulsion to raise itself to GEO. After completing on-orbit testing, the satellite will locate itself at an orbital position of 13 degrees east, joining Hotbird-13F. Once in operation, the two satellites will be located above Africa, providing broadcasting services to Europe,
North Africa, and the Middle East.

Eutelsat still has one more launch before the end of the year. NET mid-November, Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat-10B satellite to GTO on B1049-11s final flight. Using the Spacebus-Neo-200 satellite bus,
Eutelsat-10B was delivered to CCSFS via boat on Oct. 29, 2022.

SpaceX still has more launches planned for the month. In early November, Falcon 9 will launch the near-identical C-band Galaxy 31 & 32 satellites on B1051-14s final flight. In mid-November, Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-26 mission using the new Dragon C211 capsule. Falcon 9 will also launch the HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lunar lander around the same time as CRS-26. Finally, a Starlink mission is expected sometime in November.

(Lead photo: Falcon 9 B1067 stands on SLC-40 ahead of the Turksat-5B mission in December 2021. Credit: Julia Bergeron for NSF)

The post SpaceX to launch second Hotbird satellite for Eutelsat appeared
first on NASASpaceFlight.com .



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Link to news story:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/11/hotbird-13g/


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