SpaceX F9 - Galaxy 33+Galaxy 34 - SLC-40

[Grendal]

Launch Date: October 8
Launch Window: 7:05pm EDT (4:05pm PDT, 23:05 UTC)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - ASOG
Booster: B1060.14
Fairings: TBD
Mass: 3.6 Tonnes ea. (7.2 tonnes)
Orbit: GTO
Yearly Launch Number: 46th

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Galaxy 33 and Galaxy 34 commercial communications satellites for Intelsat. Built by Northrop Grumman, Galaxy 33 and Galaxy 34 will be positioned in geostationary orbit to provide C-band video and television broadcast services in the United States.

Galaxy 33, 34

Galaxy 33 and Galaxy 34 are two C-band only communications satellites owned by Intelsat.

space.skyrocket.de

 

[808?]

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1578164769873227776

Falcon 9 auto abort at T-30 seconds. Rocket and payload are in good health—teams are working toward tomorrow’s 69-minute launch window opening at 7:06 p.m. ET

 

[Electroman]

Interesting.. I can't think how many missions or years ago did they abort a launch due to any technical failure.

 

[Cosmacelf]

The booster is B1060-14, so it is getting long in the tooth. Not too surprising things aren't 100%. What is surprising is that they are using such an experienced booster for a commercial flight. Usually, these old boosters are just used for Starlink missions, but that seems to be changing lately.

 

[808?]

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1578167067492388864

Tiny helium leak (just barely triggered abort), but we take no risks with customer satellites. Standing down to investigate.

 

[Ben W]

The booster is B1060-14, so it is getting long in the tooth. Not too surprising things aren't 100%. What is surprising is that they are using such an experienced booster for a commercial flight. Usually, these old boosters are just used for Starlink missions, but that seems to be changing lately.

Is there any indication whether the helium leak was in the 1st or 2nd stage? If it was in the upper stage, then clearly it wouldn't have been a booster age issue.

 

[808?]

Scrubbed, try again tomorrow.

 

[Electroman]

Again? Why scrubbed today?

 

[Cosmacelf]

Lifting off as I type.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Some cool shots in this broadcast. Just after MECO, they had a telescope view of MECO and then fairing separation. And then they showed the jellyfish view from the droneship.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Perfect first stage landing. New co-life leader.

 

[MyJoule]

That was one of the coolest launch videos we've seen in a long time To see the plume from the drone ship just shows how well this works. And to see the fairing separation from the ground camera- What perfect lighting! Way to go SpaceX- Deployment is in a couple of minutes

 

[Nikxice]

That beautiful view of the second stage from the droneship. Although I don't see it here, the first stage booster is approaching.... just prior to beginning its reentry burn.

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1578894012437524480

Deployment of Intelsat Galaxy 34 confirmed

 

[Cosmacelf]

That beautiful view of the second stage from the droneship. Although I don't see it here, the first stage booster is approaching.... just prior to beginning its reentry burn.

Someone had their thinking cap on to position the droneship for that perfectly framed shot.

 

[ggr]

Someone had their thinking cap on to position the droneship for that perfectly framed shot.

It pretty much has to be in a straight line from the launch site, so it's more of an orientation thing than a positioning thing.

 

[ecarfan]

Wow! What amazing views from the ASDS! Never seen that before.