SpaceX Successfully Launches Satellite Into Earth Orbit Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 14, 2009 Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announces the successful launch of Falcon 1 and delivery of Malaysia's RazakSAT into the correct orbit. "This marks another successful launch by the SpaceX team," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "We are pleased to announce that Malaysia's RazakSAT, aboard Falcon 1, has achieved the intended orbit." Falcon 1, a two-stage, liquid oxygen/rocket-grade kerosene vehicle designed and manufactured by SpaceX, lifted off Monday, July 13, at 8:35 pm (PDT). Lift off occurred from the Reagan Test Site (RTS) on Omelek Island at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. RazakSAT was designed and built by Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB), a pioneer and leader in the design and manufacture of satellites in Malaysia. "Our ground systems were able to pick up communication from RazakSAT on its first pass," said Norhizam Hamzah, Senior Vice President / Chief Technical Officer, Space Systems Division, ATSB. "The satellite is communicating as expected and our team will continue to monitor the data closely." Preliminary data indicates that the RazakSAT, equipped with a high resolution Medium-Sized Aperture Camera (MAC), achieved the intended Near-Equatorial Low Earth Orbit (NEqO) at 685 km altitude and a 9 degree inclination. The payload is expected to provide high resolution images of Malaysia that can be applied to land management, resource development and conservation, forestry and fish migration.
Space X Falcon 1 RazakSAT Launch Report Posted July 13, 2009 - 22:20 PDT Second burn and satellite separation nominal. Falcon 1 has successfully deployed RazakSAT into the correct orbit. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:47 PDT This completes our live RazakSAT Mission broadcast. Thanks for joining us! Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:46 PDT T+:00:09:50 We have SECO. RazakSAT in parking orbit Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:45 PDT T+:00:09:30 Seeing some drop outs in telemetry and video... Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:44 PDT T+:00:08:45 May lose signal as we approach SECO Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:43 PDT T+:00:08:00 RazakSAT spacecraft will be deployed after short second burn Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:43 PDT T+:00:07:25 Approximately 2 minutes from SECO Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:42 PDT 230km altitude, well beyond official boundary of space. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:41 PDT Still seeing nominal flight Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:40 PDT Kestrel fires for over 6 minutes on its way to orbit. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:39 PDT Coming up to fairing seperation. Video choppy but fairing came off beautifully. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:38 PDT T+:00:02:41 MECO, stage sep and Kestrel ignition Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:38 PDT T+:00:02:41 MECO, stage sep and Kestrel ignition Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:37 PDT T-+:00:01:20 Max-Q T-+:00:01:05 Vehicle transonic, about to go supersonic Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:36 PDT T-+:00:00:40 Vehicle has begun moving downrange Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:36 PDT T-+:00:00:00 We have liftoff! Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:35 PDT T-00:00:30 and counting. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:35 PDT T-00:01:00 and counting. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:34 PDT T-00:02:00 and counting. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:32 PDT Engine is lit about 2.5 secs prior to liftoff. If anything is outside pre-prescribed parameters we shut down before lift off. Range in short red, will go green shortly. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:31 PDT Vehicle has already seen wet dress rehersal and static fire in April. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:29 PDT Vapor coming up is condensation from Liquid Oxygen vents. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:28 PDT SpaceX has approximately 2 dozen people on the ground at Kwaj to support. Control center has been on console for about 8-10 hours. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:27 PDT Terminal count has begin. Transporter erector being retracted from vehicle. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:26 PDT About to start T-00:10:00 countdown. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:25 PDT Countdown clock is at T-00:11:00 and counting. All systems are ready. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:22 PDT Completed weather briefing. Projected to be green at Tzero. Resumed countdown. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:15 PDT Three small logos on the Falcon 1 today--ATSB, MOSTI and Angkasa. ATSB, Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhdm is our customer, MOSTI is the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and Angkasa, the Malaysian Space Agency. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:12 PDT Returning to audio broadcast of live broadcast of Falcon 1 RazakSAT mission. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:06 PDT Quick break from audio broadcast. Back to live visual of Falcon 1 on the pad at Omelek. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:02 PDT Overview of the Falcon1. Posted July 13, 2009 - 20:00 PDT RazakSAT is headed for nearly same orbit as previous Falcon 1. Check orbit at Heavens-above.com. Posted July 13, 2009 - 19:58 PDT Tzero expected at approximately 20:35 PDT. Taking a closer look at RazakSAT satellite. Posted July 13, 2009 - 19:55 PDT Launch delayed to later half of launch window due to issue loading Helium. Ground system has been repaired. Range is green except for weather which is reason for hold Posted July 13, 2009 - 19:55 PDT Welcome the live RazakSAT Mission webcast. Posted July 13, 2009 - 19:52 PDT Audio commentary to begin at approximately 19:55 PDT Posted July 13, 2009 - 19:49 PDT Audio commentary to begin at approximately 19:55 PDT Posted July 13, 2009 - 19:40 PDT Countdown clock going into hold for weather. Estimated T-zero at 20:35 PDT. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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South Korea to launch its own space rocket this month Seoul (AFP) July 14, 2009 South Korea will this month launch a satellite using its own rocket as part of a drive to join Asia's space race, officials said Tuesday. An experimental satellite weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds) will be launched into a low earth orbit on July 30 from the Naro Space Centre in Goheung, 475 kilometres (300 miles) south of Seoul. "It will mark the first time that South Korea will launch ... read more |
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