SpaceX F9 - Telstar 18V - SLC-40

[Grendal]

Launch Date: September 9/10
Launch Window: 0328-0728 GMT on 9th (11:28 p.m.-3:28 a.m. EDT on 9th/10th)
Launch site: SLC-40
Booster Recovery: ASDS on OCISLY
Booster Type: B1049 - New Block 5
Orbit: GTO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Telstar 18 VANTAGE communications satellite for Telesat. The Telstar 18 VANTAGE satellite will provide high-throughput Ku-band and Ka-band communications services, supporting broadband applications over India, China, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ocean region. APT Satellite of Hong Kong has an agreement to use capacity on Telstar 18V, which is also known as Apstar 5C. The satellite was built SSL. The weight/mass has not been announced yet. It is likely to be on the heavy side since Telstar 19V was 7080 kg. Anywhere from 4500 kg to 6000+ kg.
Edit: Confirmed the satellite is 7060 kg. That makes it the second heaviest commercial satellite ever launched. SpaceX is truly on a roll.

Telstar 18V (Telstar 18 Vantage) / APStar 5C
Satbeams - World Of Satellites at your fingertips

If the schedule holds and no issues happen, this will be:
The 16th SpaceX launch of the year
7th new booster of the year
4th new Block 5 launched
23rd booster recovery in a row

 

[Electroman]

with all 5 awaiting reuse

Except I thought the first one would be dismantled for investigation and not reused..?

 

[Grendal]

Except I thought the first one would be dismantled for investigation and not reused..?

The first one will be dismantled and put back together for reuse. It's definitely planned for reuse. They may reuse a later booster first if it takes a while to put it back together.

 

[ccutrer]

...if it takes a while to put it back together.

Humpty Dumpty.... all the king's men... something something...

 

[Grendal]

Except I thought the first one would be dismantled for investigation and not reused..?

It looks like the dismantling and investigation didn't take nearly as long as some people thought. The first Block 5 will be reused for the Merah Putih launch; after about 2 months of examination.

The first post for this launch has been modified to reflect the Merah Putih reuse.

 

[Grendal]

Bumped out again. First post reflect change.

 

[MacGreiner]

Bummed. Down here until Friday was hoping to stop by on Max Brewer to watch on the way home.

 

[Grendal]

Big slip into September. Not sure as to why just yet.

Edit: Rumors say it had to do with SpaceX and not the satellite company. Don't know what the issue was though.

 

[anticitizen13.7]

SpaceX on Twitter

Static Fire complete. Launch scheduled for September 8.

 

[Grendal]

Weather for the launch is not good: 60% favorable. The same number for the next day if the launch is pushed.

 

[Grendal]

One day delay.
SpaceX on Twitter

 

[anticitizen13.7]

I'm seeing on Reddit that the weather for Sunday is still only 60%, and that the waves are pretty high:

Telstar 18V / APStar 5C Launch Campaign Thread • r/spacex

 

[Grendal]

Webcast! As Anticitizen mentioned the weather is not good.

 

[Grendal]

Everyday Astronaut's livestream:

 

[MyJoule]

Just saw it's pushed back to 12:00AM EST

 

[Grendal]

32 minute delay, so far.

 

[SMAlset]

Ready and waiting here. I suddenly remembered it was to launch tonight and at least didn't miss it. Live is always more exciting.

 

[Piney999]

Is the delay for weather at the launch site?

 

[MyJoule]

Now showing 12:45AM - Twitter feed says weather caused and payload and Falcon 9 in good shape

 

[Grendal]

Now 12:45. SpaceX is looking for a good weather window to make this happen and adjusting on the fly.