Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9/ABS and Eutelsat-1 from LC-40
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-02-2015 12:50 AM
SpaceX launches ABS/Eutelsat-1 mission
SpaceX on Sunday (March 1) launched the first two of Boeing's all-electric 702SP satellites, ABS 3A and EUTELSAT 115 West B.
The liftoff, SpaceX's third Falcon 9 flight this year, took place at 10:50 p.m. EST (0350 GMT) from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The ABS 3A satellite was deployed approximately 30 minutes after launch, with the EUTELSAT 115 West B satellite following 5 minutes later. Both satellites were designed with electric ion, rather than liquid fuel, engines to reach their final operating posts 22,300 miles above Earth's equator.
ABS 3A will be located at 3 degrees West and will connect the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. With three C-band beams and four Ku-band beams, the satellite will support VSAT services, TV distribution, IP trunking, cellular backhaul and maritime services.
EUTELSAT 115 West B will be located at 114.9 degrees West and will provide coverage from Alaska and Canada to South America. EUTELSAT 115 West B will renew resources at 114.9 degrees West by providing 12 C-band transponders and 34 Ku-Band transponders, replacing EUTELSAT 115 West A's inclined orbit capacity.
The flight marked the 16th launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 since 2010.