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posted by martyb on Friday August 02 2019, @10:02AM   Printer-friendly
from the better-not-blow-this-one dept.

[UPDATE (20190802_112243 UTC): SpaceX tweeted:

Team is setting up an additional static fire test of Falcon 9 after replacing a suspect valve. Will confirm updated target launch date for AMOS-17 once complete. (3:06 PM - 1 Aug 2019)

Here's hoping everything is nominal. --martyb]

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete and team is assessing data—targeting August 3 for launch of AMOS-17 from Pad 40 in Florida

— SpaceX (@SpaceX)

While a successful static fire test isn't considered a huge milestone anymore, it's particularly important in this case because the customer, Spacecom, previously lost a satellite payload on a SpaceX flight in 2016. As a result, this launch will be provided to Spacecom free of charge, after that anomaly during the static fire testing resulted in an explosion of the launch vehicle and Spacecom's AMOS-6 satellite.

The new satellite, known as AMOS-17, will provide telecommunications access across the Middle East, Africa and Europe and will eventually finish up in a geostationary orbit around the Earth.

The launch schedule at Spaceflight Now has better data on the launch date and time:

Launch time: 2252-0020 GMT on 3rd/4th (6:52-8:20 p.m. EDT on 3rd)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Amos 17 communications satellite. Built by Boeing and owned by Spacecom Ltd. of Israel, Amos 17 will provide high-throughput broadband connectivity and other communications services over Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Delayed from May 27, June and July.

SpaceX regularly provides a live stream of its launches; this story will be updated when such a link becomes available to us.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 02 2019, @12:33PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 02 2019, @12:33PM (#874585)

    This satellite is not the replacement for Amos-6. This satellite was planned well before the loss of Amos-6. Another satellite, Amos-8 is being built by the same Israeli firm that built Amos-6 to replace Amos-6 and will be launched in the future. Originally the replacement was to be built by Loral but was later on moved to the Israeli Firm IAI.

  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Friday August 02 2019, @01:10PM (1 child)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Friday August 02 2019, @01:10PM (#874595) Journal

    https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-block-5-second-expendable-launch/ [teslarati.com]


    In a small way, Falcon 9 B1047’s premature demise could easily be viewed as a sort of symbolic eye-for-an-eye sacrifice. Although not a literal 1:1 replacement, AMOS-17 is still essentially a follow-on to Amos-6, destroyed on September 1st, 2016 when Falcon 9 suffered an exotic COPV failure that led to a massive explosion (Musk called it a ‘fast fire’).

    Installed on top of the rocket during what was meant to be a pre-launch static fire test, the ~$200M+ Amos-6 satellite was not spared from the destruction and owner Spacecom ultimately received an insurance settlement it then used (in part) to purchase AMOS-17. Additionally, instead of accepting a cash payout from SpaceX, Spacecom chose the contractual alternative: a free Falcon 9 launch of their choice.

    Is it a coincidence that a Block 5 booster is going to be expended as part of that replacement launch? Almost certainly, yes. At a minimum, SpaceX – essentially launching for free per a contractual agreement with Spacecom – has clearly decided along with Spacecom that putting all of Falcon 9’s energy into AMOS-17 is preferable to withholding margin for a landing.

    Not the replacement, just the free launch.

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    [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday August 02 2019, @03:39PM

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday August 02 2019, @03:39PM (#874669) Journal

      Not the replacement, just the free launch.

      I heard there is no free lunch.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.